Small Canvas, Big Imagination

Back for a third year, the 2024 A4Art Prize encourages creativity in young artists and staff from across St Agnes’ Parish. (17 June 2024)

The A4Art Prize, a vibrant celebration of the creative arts, was held at MacKillop College, Port Macquarie. Now in its third year, the 2024 A4Art Prize—an initiative of the Creative Arts Nest—continues to inspire and nurture creativity among young artists and staff from St Agnes’ Parish.

This year’s challenge invited students and staff to create artwork using just one A4-size piece of paper, with the freedom to draw, paint, fold, sculpt, cut, mould, shred, or write on it. Finalists had the opportunity to receive encouragement awards, including vouchers from local businesses and cash prizes.

A remarkable 470 students and 15 staff members participated, showcasing their passion for the arts and highlighting the event's growing popularity and vibrant community spirit.

The finalists' exhibition toured local schools over six weeks, with students and teachers casting 5,000 votes. The Community Choice award received 6,500 online votes, and the annual Port Macquarie ArtWalk event, run by the council, received 4,000 votes.

Over 350 parents, students, teachers, and sponsors attended the awards night to celebrate this inspiring event. Finalists shared their reflections on the competition:

‘I play a game called Minecraft, and there’s a magma cube in there, so it jumps up and down like a spring, so that’s how I decided to make this magma cube as a reference to that,’ said Rafael DeSouza, a Year 5 student from St Joseph’s Primary School, Port Macquarie.

‘We were using squeegees in art class, and the art piece just came together by itself. I love the ocean, so when I saw how the paint turned out, I just thought that jellyfish would look good. It's like an underwater scene. I’ve never drawn jellyfish before, but it really suited how the paint turned out. I love the ocean, and a few of my favourite songs are about Jellyfish by Ocean Ellie and Jack Johnson,’ said Zoe Scott-Branagan, a Year 11 student from Newman Senior Technical College, Port Macquarie.

‘We do art because of two things: one, it’s fun to draw, and two, it’s about expressing yourself and the ideas you have in your head. Like me, I had this idea stuck inside my head, and it’s about showing your perspective on something. For instance, all the birds are in different shapes and sizes to illustrate how all of us are different shapes and sizes,’ said Joseph O’Brien, a Year 6 from St Agnes’ Primary School, Port Macquarie.

The annual event highlighted the artistic capabilities of students and staff and fostered a sense of unity and shared passion for the arts. 

Follow the link here to view the winners.