AN ART competition that raises money for underprivileged children is returning for the third year with category expansions. Supported by The Business Times, the 13-19 Art Prize doesn’t just welcome painters and digital artists aged 13 to 19 this year – it also welcomes young sculptors, animators, photographers and ceramicists. 

The cash prizes are pegged at S$800 for the gold winners, S$500 for silver, S$300 for bronze and S$100 for merit. There is no limit to the numbers of prizes awarded at all levels. 

The winning artworks will be auctioned online to raise funds for The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BT BAF), the newspaper’s charity which helps artistically talented children from underprivileged homes pursue arts courses for free.

Artwork purchases, after deducting delivery costs for the canvas artworks and related fees for digital artworks, will be eligible for a 250 per cent tax deduction.

Registration is now open for the contest’s two categories: Digital Art and Physical Art. The Digital Art category welcomes teenagers in Singapore and South-east Asian countries to submit their digital art, digital photography and short animations. The submission period is between Nov 17 and Dec 1.

The Physical Art category is open to teenagers in Singapore only, due to the challenging logistics of collecting physical artwork from across South-east Asia for judging purposes.

A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU

Friday, 2 pm

Lifestyle

Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself.

Sign Up

In this category, teenagers can submit artworks on canvas, photograph prints, sculptures and ceramic works. The artworks must be brought to 10 Square (located in Orchard Central) between Nov 27 and Dec 3. 

Winners of the competition will be announced in early 2024 and the winning works will first be publicly exhibited. Last year’s edition attracted submissions from over 240 teenagers in Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and other South-east Asian countries.

The competition is organised by not-for-profit arts organisation TRCL and presented by Beaute Hub.  

Albert Lam, CEO of Beaute Hub, a spa and skincare specialist chain in Singapore, says: “At Beaute Hub, we are committed to nurturing creativity and supporting the arts. We are proud to be the Supporting Donor of the 13-19 Art Prize, as it aligns perfectly with our underlying concept of well-being.

“We believe that art has the power to transform lives, and through this competition, we can make a positive impact on the lives of young artists, especially those from underserved backgrounds. We invite everyone to join us in supporting these talented individuals and their artistic journeys.”

Chong Huai Seng, chairman of the advisory committee for the 13-19 Art Prize, said: “The 13-19 Art Prize is a testament to the incredible talent and creativity of young artists in Singapore and the region. Through this competition, we aim to provide a platform for these aspiring artists to showcase their skills and express their unique artistic voices.

“We believe in the power of art to inspire, empower and unite communities, and the 13-19 Art Prize is a wonderful opportunity for young talents to contribute to a meaningful cause and make their mark in the art world.”

Founded in 2005, BT BAF has helped over 22,000 underserved children and youth unlock their creative potential. It funds structured arts training programmes at two arts training centres managed by TRCL, namely The Little Arts Academy and 10 Square Youth.

For more information about the 13-19 Art Prize, registration details, and updates on the competition, visit https://trcl.sg/13-19-art-prize/ or follow @trclsg on Instagram.