The talented youngsters who have won the National Galleries of Scotland's annual Art Competition for Schools will be announced today (21 September 2005) at a special ceremony in the new Weston Link on the Mound in Edinburgh. Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson will congratulate the winning artists - most of whom are aged between four and thirteen - on their outstanding creativity.

An enormous 3,394 entries were received for this year's competition - more than double the entries received last year when the competition was launched to celebrate the opening of special education facilities at the new Weston Link. Nursery, primary and secondary schools across Scotland took on the challenge of producing their own paintings in response to works and themes in the collections of the National Galleries of Scotland.

Winners will go home with art materials while their school art departments will benefit from books and prints as well as special workshops and gallery visits. The top prize-winners in each category will win a digital camera for their school art department and every single school that entered will receive a specially-designed
certificate in recognition of their participation. Their works will be displayed in the Clore Education Centre.

Ms Ferguson said: "The popularity of this competition and the quality of work on display demonstrates that Scotland's young people have great passion and a real talent for art - passion and talent that is being
nurtured to ensure a bright and creative future for Scotland. The fantastic pieces of art produced by these young people truly deserve their place on the walls of the National Gallery alongside some of the most fascinating artworks in the world."

Linda McClelland, Playfair Education Co-ordinator, said: "We were delighted with both the quantity and particularly the quality of work submitted this year. It will be very exciting to meet all the winners and watch their faces as they see their work displayed on the walls of the National Gallery." 
 

PRIZE-WINNERS
Category A (Nursery Schools Theme: The Sea)
1st Aliraza Choohan Cardonald Private Nursery, Glasgow
2nd Kate Willey Arbirlot Nursery, Arbroath
3rd Stewart Taylor Gaelic Medium Nursery School, Portree

Category B (Primary One to Primary Three Theme: Food)
1st Robbie Yourston Howdenburn Primary School, Jedburgh
2nd Joanna Deacon Millersneuk Primary School, Lenzie
3rd Pierce McEnroe Our Lady of the Mission Primary, Glasgow

Category C (Primary Four to Primary Seven Theme: Travel)
1st Max Koronka Dollar Academy, Dollar
2nd Sadie Mitchell St Mary's Primary School, Edinburgh
3rd Cameron MacPhee Edinbane Primary School, Portree

Category D (Secondary One and Secondary Two Theme: Still Life)
1st Sean Tollan Springburn Academy, Glasgow
2nd Callum Jervis Queen Anne High School, Dunfermline
3rd Emma Scott Dollar Academy, Dollar

Category E (Special Education Schools Theme: Pattern and Rhythm)
1st Schivonne Cunningham Stanecastle School, Irvine
2nd Peter Stuart Hillpark Secondary School, Glasgow
3rd David Evans, Robert Reid
and Rachel Hunter Clippens School, Linwood