Article from Borneo Post, Saturday, March 3, 2007.
KUCHING: The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) takes pride in ensuring that its second painting competition themed “Sarawak Rainforest” will be more succesful this year, said STB chief executive officer Gracie Geikie.
She was confident the board would be better prepared and more organised given the experience it went through last year.
“The competition we first held last year was succesful but I believe this year will be more successful than last year,” she said when launching the competition at STB office at Yayasan Sarawak yesterday.
Conceding that the competition reached some rural schools late last year, she said the board would be better liaise with the Education Department this time round to ensure that application forms were sent to all in time.
All the winning paintings would be exhibited and acutioned like last year, she said, adding that the board managed to collect RM3,000 from the last auction.
She said the proceeds would be channelled to charitable organisations, and the amount collected from the last auction was equally disbursed among three charities – Salvation Army, Perkata and Peryatim.
“We have also reproduced the winning paintings as postcards with 5,000 copies of each. These postcards are well received and will also be mailed to STB top agents throughout the nation.”
Divided into two categories, students, from 12 to 18, are encouraged to take part in the competition aimed at encouraging youths to support the State’s tourism industry.
It is also meant to unearth young local artistic talents besides collecting artistic materials to promote tourism.
Jointly organised by STB and Galleria, the competition is being sponsored by organisations that include SEGi College Sarawak and ITFusion.
Intending participants are advised to send in their entries before or on May 31 while the top 30 foer both categories will be announced early June, and 15 finalists from each category will be shortlisted in mid-June.
All finalists will be interviewed by a panel of judges in July with the prize presentation in August.
In category one for 12 to 15-year-olds, the first prize comprises RM1,000, an iPod and a 3D-2N to Mulu or Damai with one accompanying adult, the first runner-up will receive RM500 and the second runner-up, RM200.
A total of 10 consolation prizes of RM100 and a certificate each will also be given away.
In category two for those aged 16 to 18, the first prize consists of RM2,000, an iPod, a full scholarship for a Diploma in Graphic Design at SEGi College Sarawak and a 3D-2N to Mulu or Damai with one accompanying adult.
The first runner-up will received RM1,000 and a 75 per cent scholarship for a Diploma in Graphics Design at SEGi College Sarawak while the second runner-up will receive RM500 and a half scholarship at SEGi College Sarawak.
Consolation prizes of RM200 and a certificate each will be awarded to 10 short-listed finalists.
The top three winners in both categories will also get a trophy and a certificate each.
Among those present were Galleria director Irene Lim, SEGi College Sarawak principal Stella Lau, ITFusion general manager Moorey Mohamad and a local artist Melton Kais.
Forms are available at STB (082-423600), Visitors Information Centre (VIC), Kuching (082-410933), VIC Miri (085-434180), VIC Sibu (082-340980), Galleria (082-429361), SEGi College (082-252566) and ITFusion (082-378022).
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