Art contest to be held in memory of Birkan Uzun

TURKISH Cypriot explorer Birkan Uzun, (pictured) who lost his life while skiing on New Year’s Eve, is to be commemorated in the Young Artists’ Painting Contest which is being revived after its suspension in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Culture Department of the Ministry of National Education and Culture announced that the contest would be held in memory of Mr Uzun, who died in a skiing accident in Oregon, USA, only weeks after raising the TRNC flag on the summit of Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica.

Applications for the contest can be made during working hours between March 2131 (inclusive) at the Atatürk Cultural Centre in Lefkoşa. Entry is open to all citizens of the TRNC born between January 1, 1987 and December 31, 2006 except for members of the selection committee and their close relatives.

Submitted paintings must be signed by the artist and delivered to the Atatürk Cultural Centre in exchange for a receipt. There should be a label attached to the rear side of the painting which states the participant’s full name, place and date of birth, mobile and landline telephone numbers, e-mail address, the name of the painting, the technique used, the dimensions, and its price in Turkish Lira. The side of each painting must be no less than 35cm and no longer than 200cm. Entrants are also asked to submit a CD containing high resolution photographs of their painting along with a short curriculum vitae which should not exceed a half page.

Entrants must submit between three and five paintings which have all been produced within the last two years and have not previously won awards in any previous competitions or been exhibited.

Up for grabs awards include an “Achievement Award”, a “Department of Culture Special Award”, a “Birkan Uzun Special Award” and a “Jury’s Special Award”. The winner of the “Achievement Award” will receive 6,000TL, that of the “Department of Culture Special Award” 4,000TL, while the winners of the “Birkan Uzun Special Award” and the “Jury’s Special Award” will each take away 2,000TL.

An exhibition of the paintings will be held between May 23 and June 3.

Further information may be requested by emailing the culture department at kulturdairesi@yahoo.com