Tuesday 23 September 2008
Competition launch attracts UK media
The Young Pavement Artists Competition 2009 launched at the Natural History Museum in London today, attracting lots of press including Sky Arts news, Primary Times and Londonart.co.uk.
Watch an exclusive video of the launch.
The competition paves the way for a six-month extravaganza which is set to bring school playgrounds, pathways and even home patios alive with colour.
Internationally-renowned British artists Olly & Suzi and Supermundane (aka Rob Lowe) joined previous winners and young budding artists from a London primary school to draw at the feet of the iconic dinosaur in the museum’s entrance.
The annual national art competition always features an environmental theme - this year’s is Endangered Species.
Natural history and wildlife presenter Steve Backshall, who is among the celebrities backing the event, said:
“Pavement paintings that wash away with the rain are the perfect way to represent the endangered species of the world. The survival of some of the world's most charismatic creatures is just as fragile as these images. I only hope that this competition can make people realise how important these animals are, while raising money for a desperately important cause.”
A special award for originality has been created in honour of Mark Speight, a poignant tribute to the popular children’s TV presenter who died earlier this year and who had championed the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and the art competition for many years.
Find out more about the competition.
Pictures © courtesy of Jim Dyson