Talented school-aged artists from around the New England and other areas of NSW gathered at NERAM on Friday night for the much-anticipated announcement of the 2024 University of New England Schools Acquisitive Art Prize (UNESAP) winners.
Prizemoney and certificates were handed out in the categories of Infants, Primary, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary with winners and placegetters coming from as far away as Port Macquarie and Narrabri.
2024 UNSESAP winners were –
Infants: Isla Townsend, St Joseph’s Primary School, Uralla – Self Portrait;
Primary: Excellence Akinola-Alabi, Drummond Memorial Public School – Bird Party;
Junior Secondary: Madeleine Buntine, The Armidale School – Alone at Noble’s:
Senior Secondary: Aelah Winrow Sindicic, Armidale Secondary College – Melancholy.
This year, 60 finalists were selected from more than 500 student entries representing 46 schools across regional NSW.
All finalists’ artworks will be part of UNESAP Let’s Hang It! 2024 exhibition which will be on at NERAM until August 11.
Judge Trish Donald – a local author, illustrator and graphic designer – said she was blown away with the level of creativity and expression among this year’s entries.
“I was delighted to be asked to judge the 2024 UNSEAP artworks and was blown away with the level of creativeness and expression in all categories,” she said.
“I was very impressed with the variety of the subject matter and I have loved every minute of judging UNESAP and delighted to be part of such a special exhibition. It is such a great celebration of youth and art and brings together children of all ages to celebrate their creativeness and the start of their journey in the world of art.”
Ms Donald said she was not looking for overly technical artworks when judging, rather ones with an element of fun and playfulness.
“I was not looking for artworks that were just technical,” she said.
“For me, the piece must have feeling as well. The older the children are the more they shut down their
playfulness when making art, but I love to be able to see a sense of play and expression in the older kids’ work.”
“When older kids do art, they get very self-critical and want everything to be perfect but what they really need to be doing is not be worried if an artwork isn’t perfect but just keep being creative.”
NERAM curator Belinda Hungerford said UNESAP Let’s Hang It! was definitely a highlight on NERAM’s calendar and one which all staff looked forward to.
“Each year we are amazed by the creativity, imagination, and skill of the participating school students and the dedication of their teachers,” she said.
“This year’s opening night and prize-giving ceremony was full of excitement and anticipation with the young artists attending with their families and schoolteachers. The air was abuzz with excitement.”
Everyone is invited to vote for the People’s Choice Winner at www.neram.com.au/unesap-online-voting-peoples-choice-award/ which closes at 4pm on Sunday August 11.
2024 UNSEP Winners and Placegetters
Infants
Highly Commended: Lincoln Thackway, Drummond Memorial Public School – Caterpillar
Highly Commended: Jayce Supple, Dorrigo Public School – Summer Days
Runner Up: Eva Richards, St Joseph’s Primary School, Port Macquarie – Koala Mouse
Winner: Isla Townsend, St Joseph’s Primary School, Uralla – Self Portrait
Primary
Highly Commended: Adele Simba, Drummond Memorial Public School – The Sea of Love
Highly Commended: Charlotte Ford, Ben Venue Public School – Deer in a Forest
Runner Up: Izzabell Laundess, Premer Public School – Untitled
Primary Winner: Excellence Akinola-Alabi, Drummond Memorial Public School – Bird Party
Junior Secondary
Highly Commended: Hugo Jones, Hastings Secondary College, Westport Campus – The Contented
Chook
Runner Up: Poppy-Grace Newton, PLC Armidale – Everything! Even the Kitchen Sink
Winner: Madeleine Buntine, The Armidale School – Alone at Noble’s
Senior Secondary
Highly Commended: Dechen Kandro, Uralla Central School – Veiled India
Highly Commended: Jacky Ham, Narrabri High School – Fabrication
Runner Up: Daisy Donaldson, PLC Armidale – Australian Atmos-Phere
Winner: Aelah Winrow Sindicic, Armidale Secondary College – Melancholy
Director’s Choice: Winner Mackenzie Larkings, St Patrick’s Primary School, Walcha – Cat head,
penguin body in the dark
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