Standard Chartered Jersey has joined forces with ArtHouse Jersey to excite young budding artists across the Island.
The Bank is sponsoring £10,500 to launch a Standard Chartered Jersey Art Competition, aimed specifically at GSCE and A-level pupils, with the local charity.
Students from ten schools, representing a mix of State and private secondary schools, and a specialist educational school, are invited to enter a piece of figurative artwork. From today, as the Autumn school term begins, the teenagers ranging from 14 to 18 years old can choose to create a painting or drawing that is inspired by Jersey community life, including sustainability and social equality issues.
In the first Standard Chartered Jersey competition of its kind, two winners from every participating school will be selected to each receive a £200 prize and awarded £600 collectively for their school’s art department. The judging panel is formed of representatives from Standard Chartered Jersey and ArtHouse Jersey, who will be looking out for artistic flare, imagination, vision and creativity reflecting the artist’s passion for Jersey.
The competition closes on Wednesday 17th November and the winners announced on Wednesday 1st December (2021). The victorious pieces of artwork will take pride of place in the newly refurbished Standard Chartered Jersey office. Employees and visitors to 15 Castle Street will be able to admire the youngsters’ creations located throughout the building’s four floors.
One of the judges, Henry Baye (pictured), Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank, said: “The Standard Chartered Jersey Art Competition is a brilliant opportunity for youngsters enthusiastic about art and local Jersey life to let their creative juices flow and imaginations run wild on canvas. Having the winning pieces displayed in 15 Castle Street makes me feel very proud of what these young artists can achieve.
“We’re delighted to donate funds to make this project with ArtHouse Jersey possible and get involved with our local community. I’d love to see as many young people join in as possible. I can’t wait to see their masterpieces, good luck to all taking part!”
Tom Dingle, Director of ArtHouse Jersey, also a panel judge, said: “We are delighted to be rolling out this wonderful competition for young artists with Standard Chartered. Any initiative that incentivises creativity and helps raise the provision of art in schools across the Island is to be welcomed, with the Standard Chartered Jersey Art Competition offering an excellent uplift for art departments across ten local secondary schools. It’s exciting that young people are being invited to respond to the issues our local community faces.
“On a personal level, I’m very much looking forward to seeing these young artists’ work.”
This charity initiative follows other recent projects with the local community, demonstrating the Bank’s ‘here for good’ brand belief that a financial institution can be a force for good and make a positive impact in the world. In 2020, Standard Chartered donated vital disinfector equipment to support the Jersey’s cleaning response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Bank also donated around £45,000 to Beresford Street Kitchen and the Grace Crocker Family Support Foundation, and gave 360 masks to Jersey General hospital for use by Intensive Care Unit teams and hospital medical staff.
