A UNIQUE Irish aviation art competition has been launched for thousands of pupils in primary schools throughout the city.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Naoise Ã? MuirÃ, and the chairman of the Irish Aviation Authority, Anne Nolan, unveiled details of the exciting competition at the Dublin City Gallery last week.
Students will have the opportunity to participate in the competition as part of the FlightFest event, which is a once-in-a-lifetime international flypast of more than 30 aircraft over the River Liffey taking place on Sunday, September 15.
Organised by the Irish Aviation Authority, and supported by Dublin City Council, the art competition is based on the theme
‘Aircraft and The Liffey’.
It is open to all students in primary schools throughout the Dublin area and includes four categories ranging from junior infants to sixth class pupils.
There is also a separate category for primary schools with special education needs.
In the junior/senior infant categories, pupils will submit their entries on prepared drawing templates. For categories 2 -4 pupils may submit their free drawing entries.
For the primary schools with special education needs there are two categories, A and B. In these categories, pupils may complete the pre-prepared templates or may submit their free drawing entries.
Each entry in all categories must contain an aircraft and a river on an A4 sized page with no frame or mounting.
Ms Nolan said that the art competition will focus students’ minds on FlightFest and hopefully encourage them to come into the city on the day to experience the historic fly past.
“At this stage every primary school principal in Dublin has received a FlightFest pack with all the details and we hope that they will embrace this art competition and encourage the students to participate,
? she said.
The Irish Aviation Authority has arranged a number of prizes. The winner in each category will receive
?¬100 with the runner-up receiving
?¬50 and third prize is worth
?¬25.
“I call on all budding artists in Dublin to get their paints out and let their imagination tell us what Flightfest will be like,
? said the Lord Mayor.
The school boasting the winner in each category will also receive e1,500. Each of the winners and their families will receive a luncheon voucher for a Dublin hotel on the day of the event.
Each school will identify the competition categories in which it wishes to enter. Following its own art competition for all students, the school will select the three best entries in each category to be entered into the competition.
The closing date for entries is 5.30pm on Friday, June 28 and the winners will be announced in the first week of September.
Large commercial aircraft from Ireland and abroad will fly past, including the Boeing 737 and the Airbus. Spectators will also enjoy a variety of helicopters and vintage aircraft including the World War II Spitfire and the B-17 Flying Fortress.
For further information visit www.flightfest.ie.