Bellarine Show Schools Art Competition

For the last ten years the Bellarine Agricultural Show has run an art competition for all the local primary and preschools to enter. This initiative was started by Mr Irons who wanted to remember his wife in a way that combining arts and agriculture. The competition has evolved over the years from each school decorating a pair of jeans, to having individual student entries. In 2014, four primary schools and one preschool entered with a total of 300 exhibits. 2015 brought five primary schools and two preschools with 800 entries in total. It was fantastic to see, however our venue did not cater for this.

Rather than exhibting students individual artworks, as Schools Steward in 2016 I decided to show class artworks. Each school was given seven raw MDF cut outs of a sheep body. Each class had to create legs for the sheep and decorate, there was no guidelines or theme. As with the success of 2016, the 2017 competition followed suit but Hens were provided by Faggs Mitre 10 Wallington, rather than Sheep.

The exhibits are judged by retired primary school teachers or art teachers. The winning school is awarded the Judy Irons Perpetual Trophy along with a $50 cash prize to the schools art department.