National Trust, Unicomer host art competition

THE National Trust and Unicomer (Trinidad) Ltd are inviting young artists to explore TT's heritage in an art competition to commemorate the International Day for Monuments and Sites, which will be observed on April 18.

The art competition has been developed under the theme Heritage is Me, and the organisers are encouraging young artists and their families to reconnect with the outdoors and rediscover the beauty and diversity of their heritage.

Artists can choose from over 300 monuments and sites on the National Trust website. Each has a story behind it, providing some of the inspiration for artists, who are being given the freedom to creatively interpret what heritage means to them in a variety of media, including digital art, a media release said.

Chairman of the National Trust Margaret McDowall said in the release, “Over the past year, we have witnessed a once-in-a-century global disaster with the coronavirus. This has prompted us to change the way we conduct our lives, but as challenging as that has been, our heritage has equipped us with the resilience to navigate a way through these dramatic changes. In fact, the way we have performed, so far, has reinforced just how resilient we are, and that should be celebrated.”

Managing director of Unicomer Clive Fletcher said, “This is a unique opportunity for our young students to express themselves artistically, while diving deep into the rich heritage we have in TT. Our monuments often go unnoticed, and we think this is a unique opportunity to drive awareness among our younger population that will result with a better understanding of their identity and the importance or preserving these heritage sites.”

The release said, "National heritage is an important part of national culture, and conservation of important built and natural heritage monuments and sites is central to a country developing a strong and sustainable self-identity."

Prizes include laptops, tablets, computers and accessories.

The release said hosting the competition at this time is an important statement on how families can safely reintegrate social activities in a fun way and at the same time allow TT to demonstrate an important expression of global solidarity with confronting the ongoing worldwide health crisis.

The competition is open until April 5 and interested artists can visit the National Trust website for details.

The International Day for Monuments and Sites has been organised for the past 21 years by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a global non-governmental organisation associated with Unesco, as part of its mission to promote the conservation, protection, use and enhancement of monuments, building complexes and sites.