Bloom and Grow art challenge

Photo: Picture by DARREN ROBINSON

POTTY for plants . . . Mayfield pupils Leila Howard, left, and Georgina Bellingham help Stoneleigh pupil Leo King create a meadow.

aspiring young artists in Oldham are being challenged to put their creative talents to the test and design a piece of public art to support Bloom and Grow 2011.

This month sees the launch of a competition that invites pupils in Oldham’s primary and secondary schools to design a work of art based on the theme Past Present and Future Transport.

There will be two entry categories: one for primary schools (four to 11-year-olds) and one for secondary schools (11 to 16-year-olds).

One winner will be picked from each category by a judging panel along with two runners-up.

Winners will have their art printed on to banners and displayed along Yorkshire Street into the town centre, and will also be presented with their own personal banner and a voucher for Spindles shopping centre.

The runners-up will have their art printed on to hoardings, which will be exhibited around the Oldham Mumps roundabout.

Working in partnership with Metrolink and MPact-Thales, Oldham Council wants to repeat the huge success of last year’s competition, which received more than 300 entries and led to the award of “Best City” in the North West 2010.

Elaine McLean, Oldham Council’s executive director for economy, places and skills, said: “Bloom and Grow’s success is always based on community involvement and we hope this competition will encourage more people to join this year’s campaign.

“For the winners and runner-up to have their artwork on show in such prominent parts of Oldham is a fabulous prize.”

Philip Purdy, Transport for Greater Manchester’s Metrolink director, said: “The Bloom and Grow schools competition has done so much to raise awareness of Oldham’s fantastic green spaces. We hope this will be a great way to welcome Metrolink to the town.”

Schools must submit their students’ entries by the competition closing date of May 13, and the winning designs will be announced later in the month.