Three lucky winners have each won £50 in the first ever national libraries competition – Express Yourself.
Iwan Roberts, 8 years old, of Ysgol Cymerau, Pwllheli a group of year 8 pupils from Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, Penygroes and Joan Harris of Dolgellau have each scooped £50 just in time for the January sales!
Iwan won with a fantastic short animated film, whilst Martha, Elin, Mared, Megan and Lois of Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle came out on top with a drama script and Joan Harris with a poem.
Nia Gruffydd of Gwynedd Council Library Service said:
“We were delighted with the response and we had a great time in judging the entries as many made us laugh, some made us argue and some were just bizarre!
“We were very impressed with the overall quality of entries and also a big thank you to all the library staff who did a great job in promoting the competition.”
Express Yourself encouraged everyone of all ages to show off their creative talents with a generic theme of ‘libraries’. Entrants could choose from a variety of arts including creative writing, dancing, drama, music, animation, painting, photography, drawing or sculpture. Library Services throughout Wales participated in the competition and 1500+ entries were received in total.
Ruth Jones, star of the popular TV comedy Gavin & Stacey, who supports the campaign added:
”It’s fantastic that so many people have entered – it just goes to show what a creative nation we are! I’m really looking forward to seeing the finalists work and presenting the prizes in February.”
All the local winners will now be entered into the national stages where eighteen finalists will be chosen and invited to a special awards ceremony on 25 February where they will have the chance to win £500.
The Express Yourself competition forms part of the national marketing campaign for libraries in Wales. It forms a central part of Libraries for Life, the Welsh Assembly Government’s strategy for libraries in Wales.
