Twenty local schools are currently taking part in the first ever dot-art Schools programme, an interactive, online, inter-school art competition for Year 6 and Year 9 students, supported by Arts Council England. Voting is open until the end of May, and the winning pieces from each participating school will be shown in an exhibition in Liverpool city centre in July.
The dot-art Schools programme is an innovative new scheme giving students a public platform to display their art work outside the school environment and the chance to enter into friendly inter-school interaction and competition. Each participating school selects 25 pieces of work which are put on display via the dot-art Schools website, where students, family and friends, as well as the public, are able to vote for their favourite piece. An exhibition will then be held showcasing the top works from each participating school in the Domino Gallery, Liverpool, a scholarship awarded to the top student in the program, and certificates awarded to the top students at each school.
The programme, which has the full support of Liverpool City Council, Curious Minds and City Central BID, aims to nurture talent, raise ambition, and build interest in the art world, in a way which cannot be achieved within schools. Art teachers have confirmed that this program could not be implemented by teachers alone and will add an valuable additional dimension to the curriculum, and that taking the pupil’s art work outside the school will bring great benefits, giving them a lifelong interest in the arts.
Tim Alderman, Headteacher at St Julie’s Catholic College, and representative of the Liverpool Association of Secondary Headteachers (LASH), said: “It has been a long time since we have had something of this calibre in the city to promote and celebrate the work of our young artists… At a time when the Government and Department of Education’s focus is most definitely on the core subjects of English, Maths, Science, Humanities and Languages, it is both reassuring and stimulating to have an organisation promote the arts in such a positive way. It is of particular benefit to students in Year 9 as not only do they see the relevance of art in society but also the benefit of choosing Art as an option subject as a future career.”
dot-art Schools is currently looking for both Primary and Secondary schools across the Liverpool City Region who would like to take part in the next programme, which starts in September. Teachers interested in getting involved can find out more and complete an Expression of Interest form on the dot-art Schools website: schools.dot-art.com/what.
How to Vote:
- To place your vote, please visit schools.dot-art.com.
- Select “Vote” from the menu along the top. View all the entries by choosing either the “Secondary” or “Primary” page, where you will find all the schools taking part. Click the “View Entries” button under each school logo to view their artwork.
- When you have selected your favourite piece from ALL the entries, click the blue “Vote” button under that piece.
- A box will appear asking for your email address; please type this carefully and click the “Place your Vote” button.
- You will then be sent an email containing a confirmation link (this is to ensure the system is not abused and everyone has one vote only), which you MUST CLICK to confirm your vote.
Rules:
One vote per person. If you change your mind, you can vote again, but your original vote will be cancelled.
Your vote will not be counted until you click the registration link sent to the email address you provide.
All votes must be placed before midnight on 26 May 2013.