Accra, May 7, GNA – BIC ®, a leading global stationery brand has launched the maiden BIC ® Junior Art Master challenge for basic school pupils and students to artistically express their Covid-19 experiences.
The challenge, dubbed “My Covid Experience,” will attract participation from two students from 30 schools with the first three finalists given a year of educational sponsorship.
Addressing guests and dignitaries at the launch held at Pensfield School in Accra, Mr. Leonard Ehouabolet, Senior Marketing Manager, BIC ® West, and Central Africa, said the BIC ® Junior Art Master challenge drew direct inspiration from the success story of the BIC ® Art Master Challenge, a similar competition organized for professional artists across Africa.
He said, “In the wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic, however, the brand has had to depart from its regular schools’ activations which attracted large gatherings.
“In its stead, innovative and thought-stimulating activities such as the BIC ® Junior Art Master Challenge have been introduced to effectively engage the brand’s core publics.”
Mr. Ehouabolet said Africa was blessed with talents in the field of Art, and said, “But to make giant strides and become competitive on the global stage, there is the need for the continent to consciously create avenues that nurture talent and add great value to artistic ability.”
He highlighted the need for the continent to focus on developing Art from the grassroots, thereby bringing to the fore, the essence of organizing such an engaging competition among children.
Mr. Ehouabolet said art played a significant role in the life and development of children such as their communication, problem-solving, social, emotional, and fine motor skills as well as self-expression and creativity.
“Though Art may seem like a fun engagement for many, its significance in helping to expand the child’s ability to interact with the world around them and providing a new set of skills for self-expression and communication cannot be understated”, he emphasised.
Speaking about the modalities for the competition, Mr. George Nkonsah, Business Development Manager for Ghana-Cameroon cluster said, “To ensure fair participation, participants have been grouped into two categories – the Junior Category which comprises pupils from classes 3 to 5 and the Senior Category from classes 6 to JHS 3.”
He advised teachers and parents to strictly follow the guidelines for the competition to prevent disqualification and urged them to encourage their wards to embark on a colourful journey with BIC ® in its hunt for Ghana’s artistic champion.
The Proprietor of Pensfield School, Mr. Samuel Anim Ayeko, thanked BIC for the initiative and urged participants to explore and do their best in the challenge saying, “Every participant is a champion.”
Four judges have been selected for the competition which ends at the end of this term.
The stationery giant has for the past 40 years been a leading advocate and supporter of the Art industry – providing platforms for artists around the world to creatively express their inspirations through the creation of various art forms including portraits, designs, and sculptures.
GNA