Recycling Rodins required

THE highly successful Better Tomorrows Sculpture Challenge, which aims to inspire young artists to create art out of recycled materials, will be bolder and bigger in 2011.

Better Tomorrows, an independent community company that promotes sustainable living, introduced the competition two years ago to highlight the potential for recycling.

Sixth Form colleges, private institutes and universities from across West Sussex and Brighton and Hove are being challenged to come up with sculptures that could be made out of old bikes, plastic bottles or fabrics – any recyclable waste in fact. The theme will be to carry the message: “Recycle today for Better Tomorrows.”

A grant from the Ernest Cook Trust, which encourages young people to take an interest in the environment and arts, means Better Tomorrows can extend the challenge to more young people than ever.

Forty-two colleges, including Brighton and Hove’s City College and Varndean College, plus the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton, have been invited to take part.

The competition has a University Category and Sixth Form Category.

The winning sculpture from the University Category will be exhibited for up to six months in the Cass Sculpture Foundation, Goodwood, a charity set up to help British artists further their careers. There is also a £100 prize for second place and £50 for third.

The Sixth Form Category has a first prize of £150, a £100 second prize and a £50 third prize.

The closing date for applications is November 30 with judging taking place next June.

John de Mierre, Chairman of Better Tomorrows, said: “The Sculpture Challenge highlights the importance of recycling, just how easy it is to recycle and the wide range of materials that can be re-used or recycled, rather than being sent to landfill.

“Just as importantly, it also encourages young artists, offering them the opportunity to show their artistic talent in a first class shop window.

“Thanks to the Ernest Cook Foundation, the grant means we have been able to build upon the success of the first two Sculpture Challenges, which produced a wide range of imaginative entries.

“We are The confident young artists are sure to show once again an impressive amount of thought, craftsmanship and research as they face this art challenge with a difference.”

For further information about the challenge go to: www.bettertomorrows.org.uk or call 01243 756601.