Emily Norris has won an art competition which ran alongside this year’s Summer reading challenge.
Libraries across North Northamptonshire ran an art competition entitled ‘Love Where You Live’ which was free for children aged between 5 and 12 to enter and was part of this year’s 2024 Summer Reading Challenge, Marvellous Makers, produced by the Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with libraries. Through the art competition, children were asked to submit an original piece of work that celebrated what they love most about where they live.
Guest judge and local artist Lisa Lovett, who is based at the Chester House Estate, then toured each of the libraries and selected a finalist who was invited to the final in late September at Discover Northamptonshire, Rushden Lakes. All finalists and their families were presented with a prize, before the overall winner was crowned.
The finalists in the art competition were:
- Paislea Finch-Gilchrist (Corby) aged 8
- Max Harris (Kettering) aged 5
- Jessica Hutchings (Oundle) aged 6
- Isabelle Storey (Wellingborough) aged 8
- Teegan Moody (Irthlingborough): recently turned 13yrs old
- Emily Norris (Rushden): recently turned 13 yrs old
All finalists had the chance to meet Lisa, received a certificate and prize, whilst the winner also received a £50 HobbyCraft vouched and will have their design placed on the back of a limited run of library membership cards.
Cllr Helen Howell, Deputy Leader of North Northamptonshire Council and Executive Member for Sport, Leisure, Culture and Tourism attended the final, said:
“As a council, one of our priorities is to create a place where people are proud to live, and it was wonderful to see the finalists’ art work – all along this theme.
“I do not envy Lisa for having to make the final decision – there are some extremely talented young artists across North Northants, it was an honour to see their work on show and present the awards to the finalists and winner. I hope this is the start of a creative journey for these younger residents and I can’t wait to see their artwork shown at a national level one day.”
Lisa Lovett of Earthly Arts Studio at The Chester House Estate said:
“I have been completely blown away by the level and range of art submitted to the Northamptonshire Libraries “Love Where You Live” Art competition. A range of art that covered architectural pencil drawings of beautiful buildings, to working model sculptures, mixed media artwork, paintings and photography. It was wonderful to see the County mapped out through art at each library by young artists who clearly all love being creative. The overall winner’s detail included in the drawing of the beautiful Carnegie Building that is Rushden Library, showed great observation and hand eye coordination skills.”
