PEARL CLUB CREATIVITY CONTEST 2020

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

THEME: VIDA PURA PARA TODOS- Pure Life for All

"The environment is where we all meet; where all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share."
                               ~Lady Bird Johnson

BACKGROUND AND AIM
The earth since its inception has undergone a constant development. It has served and continues to serve the purposes of man who uses his God-given intellect to improve it. However, with an increase in the insatiable desire for more, there seem to be an even greater neglect of this earth, the environment, our common home. Therefore, there is a need to stir up the awareness of our responsibility to preserve the earth, care for her and restore the balance of its biotic and abiotic components in young people. Pope Francis in an encyclical, Laudato Si, which he wrote exactly five years ago points out that “saving our common home is crucial for youth because they will suffer the most from the consequences of climate change. So, as young people, you have to take ownership of your future”.

During these days of lockdown in which we have all been forced to 'stay put', we may have found ourselves reflecting more on the role this ‘common home’ plays in our daily lives, our shared responsibility to the world at large and how the misery and joys of one very quickly spreads to the others. It has also given many the opportunity to re-evaluate relationships with family and friends. We may also have considered what we could do from our own little corners, hence this competition.

In organizing this competition, our aim is to foster in participants the art of problem solving, critical thinking and creative writing as well as self-expression in oral, written or graphic form. Even more importantly, we hope to use this medium to get them to think about the preservation of the earth and of human life through the care of our common home, mother earth and solid bonds of friendship built among family members, and people of different races and ethnicity.
Following this, participants are expected to work around the theme while keeping one or more of the following points in mind:
- How can the choices we make now sustain our future world and preserve it for the next generation? Marshall McLuhan says that “There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew”.
- How could reduction in consumption especially of items that we could do without reduce the strain on the environment.
- Authentic friendship does not exclude anyone. True friendship also means making a heartfelt effort to understand the convictions of our friends even though we may never come to share them or accept them (Fernando O’Cariz).
- We cannot presume to heal our relationship with nature and the environment without healing all fundamental human relationships.

TOPICS
A. Writing: The Earth, Our Common Home; To Have and To Protect
Protecting the earth is a responsibility of every one of us and it is through taking care of her that we can take care of everyone around us.

B. Visual Art: : Save Our Home. Can Artists Save The World?
Find innovative ways to show your concern for the environment and encourage the art of reusing, reducing and recycling for a sustainable future.

LEVELS
1. Junior: between the ages of 11 – 13
2. Senior: between the ages of 14 - 16

MODE OF SUBMISSION
Writing category: 
- Participants can send in essays, short stories or poems.
- Essays and short stories should be a minimum of 500 words (for Juniors) and 800 words (for seniors) and Poems, a minimum of three stanzas (for juniors) and five stanzas (for seniors).
- Write ups should be sent to pearlclub042@gmail.com before the deadline

Art category:
- Submissions could be painting, drawing or crafts. Ensure that it reflects the theme.
- A picture of the art work should be sent to pearlclub042@gmail.com. The top 10 artists will be required to send in a 3-minute video explaining their art and the inspiration behind it. They will also be required to send in their art work by post. Paintings and drawing should be framed.
Subject of email: Creativity contest 2020: Name (e.g. Creativity Contest 2020- Raphaela John)

Participants are to provide the following on their entries for both categories of the contest: Full Name, Class and Age.

ENTRY REQUIREMENT
- Entries opens: June 13 - July 12, 2020.
- Registration should be concluded by July 5th. Fee N1,000
- Winners to be announced on July 18                                                                           
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Note that participants are allowed to make only one submission

Young writers’ and artists’ workshop:
Participants will have the opportunity to participate in a workshop to be facilitated by the judges.
Click here to participate –
Young Artists' Workshop- July 4th
Young Writers' Workshop- July 11th



WRITER'S WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

•CHIKA UNIGWE

Chika Nina Unigwe is a Nigerian-born Igbo author who writes in English and Dutch. In April 2014 she was selected for the Hay Festival's Africa 39 list of 39 Sub-Saharan African writers aged under 40 with potential and talent to define future trends in African literature.
She sits on the Board of Trustees of Pan-African literary initiative Writivism and set up the Awele Creative Trust in Nigeria to support young writers. She won the 2003 BBC Short Story Competition and a Commonwealth Short Story Competition award. In 2004, she was shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing. In the same year, her short story made the top 10 of the Million Writers Award for best online fiction. In 2005, she won third prize in the Equiano Fiction Contest.

MEET OUR JUDGES

•NICODEMUS ONAH

Nicodemus Onah is a recent graduate of Electronic Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. During his time in school, he won numerous awards including essay contests and scholarships. He was a one-time President of the University of Nigeria Essayists Group. He was also the Editor-in-chief of the maiden magazine of the Nigerian Universities Engineering Students Association, University of Nigeria chapter, published in November, 2019.

•JENNIFER ONOCHIE

Jennifer is a Doctor of Applied communication. She studied English & Literature in University of Benin and Communication & Language Arts in University of Ibadan. She currently works as a lecturer of Communication in English, Dominican University, Ibadan.

•MARY JOY OROLA

Joy has a BA in English language and a PGD from Nigerian institute of journalism. She is the Editor of Thin Walls Media, has a radio programme and has edited a number of books.

ART:
     
•CHINYERE JESSICA NZENWATA

Chinyere is an Art Historian. She studied Fine and Applied Arts with a major in Art History at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She has participated in two editions of the Life in My City Arts Festival which is held annually in Enugu. She currently works at the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art as a research and documentation Officer.

•ANN ONYAOLA OGIDI

Ann is a student of Architecture at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. She is a contemporary artist whose forte is customized cards and pencil portraits as well as pastel (coloured chalk) designs.
She also has a flair for turning waste in to art.

•ESTHER ADEBAYO

Esther Adebayo O. is the founder of Esther arts gallery.  She was trained at the Omidiran studio for two years and has DA in Fine and Applied Arts from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. She is a mixed media artist using locally sourced materials in depicting, showcasing and promoting the rich culture and heritage of Africa. Her philosophy is to use her creativity to promote the rich and forgotten aspects of African cultural heritage and traditions while addressing pressing social problems like poverty, unemployment etc.
She is also member of the Female Artist Association of Nigeria (FEAAN), Agama Arts, SisterART Global Family, Leading Women Africa (LWA)etc. Her works have been sold in different parts of the continents and she has participated in several exhibitions.

AWARDS

WRITING- JUNIOR AND SENIOR CATEGORY

1st Prize:
Smartberry 2020 Tablet- 10”

2nd Prize:
Surbook Tablet with Detachable keyboard and pen

3rd Prize:
Myfi preloaded with data

ART- JUNIOR AND SENIOR CATEGORY

1st Prize:
VEIKK Digital Drawing Tablet A15- 10”

2nd Prize:
40 pcs Drawing and sketching pencils Art set with Sketch paper zipper case

3rd Prize:
H&B 32pcs Art Drawing kit water colour and pencils & Vintage Handmade Leather Sketchpad

Suggested literature:
-Laudato Si by Pope Francis- click here
-Four Loves by CS Lewis
-November 1st letter by the Prelate of Opus dei -click here
- The story of stuff by Annie Leonard (Documentary and Book)
- Introduction to Art- click here

Contact information and further enquiries:
Instagram: @pearl_club_enugu    Email: pearlclub042@gmail.com
Uchechi- 07039407724
Cynthia- 08085843633