Union awards Credit to young artists

PABLO Picasso once famously proclaimed that all children are artists. The problem, he said, was how to remain an artist once they grew up.

If the 30,000-plus strong entrants to this year’s Irish League of Credit Union (ILCU) 2006/07 Poster Competition are anything to go by, the prognosis for this generation is positive.

The competition is now in its 23rd year and continues to be a huge attraction for budding artists from across the country.

The theme of this year’s competition was Credit Unions: Making a World of Difference and entrants were free to express their creativity using a wide variety of media. The organisers said both the theme and the freedom entrants had to express themselves was a good reflection of what credit unions were all about.

ILCU president, Anne O’Byrne, said credit unions were Ireland’s only community-run financial services providers, with more than three million members.

She said that the theme of the competition was a good reflection of what it was all about.

“Clearly, credit unions are making a world of difference all over Ireland,” she said.

The awards were presented by Ms O’Byrne and television presenter and painter, Frank Clarke.

Mr Clarke said the standard of work and the sheer creativity that they had seen in the competition continued to amaze and delight them.

He believed the annual competition was stimulating growing interest in art throughout the country.

“Credit unions are perfectly placed to continue fostering talent and experimentation among the younger members of their communities,” he said.

The competition also encouraged those with a physical or intellectual disability to submit entries in free expression, if they so wished.

The winning posters will be featured in the ILCU annual calendar for 2008 and free eCards are available to send on www.cu4youth.ie.