Thirty-seven Queensland senior students have been honoured for their exceptional artistic talent at this year’s Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art.
The winning students’ works were selected from 459 submissions from 177 schools across the state.
Four schools have also claimed two Excellence Awards each, Cairns State High School, Corinda State High School, The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James (Mundingburra), and Fairholme College (Toowoomba).
“The quality of works this year was a testament to the exceptional artistic abilities of Queensland’s secondary school students,” said Minister for Education, Grace Grace.
“These awards celebrate not only the students themselves but also the importance of nurturing artistic talent in Queensland schools and celebrating our dedicated visual art teachers.
“The works also reveal some of the issues and topics young Queenslanders are thinking about including environmental and social problems, cultural identity, health and wellbeing, technology and relationships.”
Excellence Award winners’ work will be exhibited at the prestigious Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane from 27 April to 25 August 2024.
“The opportunity to have work shown in QAGOMA is once-in-a-lifetime for these aspiring young artists,” said Minister Grace.
One student from each region also received a regional encouragement award and 104 students from across Queensland received Commendation awards.
The annual awards program recognises and promotes excellence in senior visual art education at state and non-state schools.
“Creative Generation Excellence Awards has enabled me to pursue my art at a higher level,” said NC Region Excellence Award winning student, Soleil Knight (right) of Maroochydore State High School.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with a broader audience, and I am hopeful that other young artists feel inspired to express themselves and their beliefs through art.”
In 2024, the program will celebrate 30 years of exhibiting with program partner, QAGOMA.
CQ Region Excellence Award winning student, Prayer Muchirahondo (right) of Lighthouse Christian School said it was a great honour her work showcased.
“Migrant Needs stems from my profound experiences as a sixteen-year-old who has lived in three different countries,” she said.
“The selection of objects like the language dictionary proved to be wise as I still long to preserve my Zimbabwean-South African identity while simultaneously navigating Australian culture.”
A full list of award winners and a digital exhibition of all works is available on the program website https://creativegeneration.education.qld.gov.au/visual-art/award-recipients
Nominations for the 2024 program will open in early–mid 2024.
