St. Hugh’s Cops Top Spot in IOJ Art Competition

The St. Hugh’s High School, in St. Andrew, is the winner of the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) 2013/ 2014 Arts and Craft in Schools Competition.

The competition, which began in 1938, showcased the many areas of art being taught in schools, whilst encouraging and exposing the creativity of children, at the National Exhibition for Arts in School, held at the IOJ’s downtown Kingston complex on April 8.

St. Hugh’s student, Ackeilia Cane, told JIS News that the school felt motivated by the victory, which earned the institution a trophy and prizes worth over $70,000.

“We are…thankful. The hard work that we put in and our passion to succeed enabled us to win,” she said, while advising other schools to put in extra work, research, and do the best.”

Head of the Arts Department, Alishia Wilks-James said, the event presented “a fantastic opportunity for them (students) to be able to see what other schools are doing in arts and to see their work on display.”

The teacher stressed that the interaction at the exhibition was positive for the students. “So it definitely boosts and inspires them. We have done well, and I hope that next year we can come back and do it just as well,” she said.

Meanwhile, Principal Director of Culture, in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Dahlia Harris, said “Jamaicans are creatively wealthy…”when you see young people interested in Arts, it tells you that there is still life existing in the craft. There is a career in it, and it opens up to the public what our young people are doing.”

Emphasising that all creative expression has value, Miss Harris, said the messages portrayed in the displays, address the issues of bleaching and encourages young people to be confident. “When young people engage in these types of discussion, it is something to stop and listen to,” she said.

Executive Director of the National Gallery of Jamaica, Dr. Veerle Poupeye, encouraged art teachers to help students to widen their horizons in the craft. She also lauded the animation pieces displayed by the students.

Second place went to the St. George’s College, and third spot to Foga Road High School, while fourth place went to Buff Bay High School.  The main sponsors of the event were: Jetcon Corporation, Pugh’s Colour Lab, Liguanea Drug and Garden Centre, Sangster’s Book Store, Reelrock, and GSW Animation.