Second art competition

AFTER its success with its Art Exhibition last year, Mercia Marina is making it an annual event, in conjunction with the annual Willington Arts Festival.

The theme for the 2013 competition at the marina on the Trent & Mersey Canal is ‘Water Life', with amateur and professional artists invited to submit entries by the deadline of 15th April.

The overall winner of the 2012 competition was Hayley Powell, pictured, a professional iron-work sculptor, who is also a moorer at the marina.

Bank Holiday weekend

All the entries will be displayed at Willington Arts Festival during the May Bank Holiday weekend—Saturday, 4th May to Monday, 6th May 6—where visitors will be able to vote for their favourite piece of work.

Due to the popularity of the competition in 2012, the organisers have widened this year's event to incorporate five separate judging categories; painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and mixed media.

Champagne and boat trip

Five category winners will each receive a bottle of champagne from Mercia Marina, while the artist with the most overall public votes will also win a boat trip for up to 12 people.

Tony Preston, sales and marketing manager for Mercia Marina, explained:

"We had dozens of entries last year, and the display at the arts festival proved hugely popular among visitors given the hundreds of votes that were posted.

"As a result, we've increased the scope this year to introduce categories in several disciplines, which we hope will widen participation even further. If the standard of entries is anything like last year, we should have a fantastic display for the festival in May."

Submissions have no age restriction but they must reflect a scene or interpretation of ‘Water Life' in the Willington area.