LIMERICK local and Virgin Media employee, Eamonn Lunn, has launched an art competition called ‘Draw your Hero’, designed to recognise people who are working tirelessly to bring Ireland through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Draw your Hero is based on the theme “Not all superheroes wear capes”, inspired by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s March address to the nation and is open to children aged between 6 and 14 years old across Ireland.
The competition will run from April 8th – June 2nd , with judging taking place from June 3rd – August 3rd, 2020.
Lunn is encouraging children to submit artwork of the superhero in their lives, whether it’s their parent who’s a medical professional on the frontline, their sibling who’s keeping shelves stocked in our local supermarkets, or their grandparent who is social distancing. Lunn explains, “Heroes come in many forms and this competition is a way to inspire and share children’s creative flair, while also acknowledging the heroes who are taking incredible action and standing strong in the face of adversity.
“In short, it could be anyone in your daily life or community who deserves a thank-you for everything they are doing in these difficult times.” Lunn said.
The competition will run across four age categories: i) 6-7 years old; ii) 8-9 years old; iii) 10-11 years old and iv) 12-14 years old.
Participants must submit their artwork in A4 or A3, alongside a 200 word description or a 30 second video outlining why they’ve chosen their hero and what makes them so special.
Pictures can have serious or fun themes and the more colour the better. With prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place and the winners, and their artwork, will also be showcased to the nation in a special segment on Virgin Media Television’s Ireland AM.
“Not all superheroes wear capes, some wear scrubs and gowns”. This sentence from the Taoiseach’s address resonated with Lunn who set to work building the competition from this statement, to highlight the many different professions and people who are working tirelessly to bring Ireland through this time.
“I, like many others, have been humbled by the efforts of our fellow country men, women and children in the past few weeks and in my own small way wish to recognise their efforts”.
Following the Draw your Hero competition, there will be an exhibition of the children’s work and a special awards night to acknowledge every part our superheroes are playing in getting Ireland through this crisis.
The Head of the Limerick School of Art and Design, Mike Fitzpatrick, has offered the college gallery for the event. Mr Fitzpatrick will also chair the judging panel with more judges being announced in the coming weeks.
To learn more about the Draw Your Hero competition, visit the website at http://drawyourhero.ie/
