October 1, 1999
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

Soiree '99 Youth Essay, Poetry and Graphic Art Competition announced

Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, announced today the start of a youth-oriented arts competition to be conducted throughout the province during the next six weeks. The purpose of the Soiree '99 Youth Essay, Poetry and Graphic Art Competition is to encourage and highlight the creative abilities of the youth of Newfoundland and Labrador during our 50th Anniversary of Confederation with Canada.

"This project will stand as one of the lasting legacies of the Soiree '99 year, and presents an excellent forum for the young people of Newfoundland and Labrador to express their creative ideas about who we are and where we are going as a province," Minister Furey said. "I encourage all of our young people, as well as their parents, teachers and principals, to get involved."

The theme of the competition is "The Last 50 Years ~ The Next Fifty Years: Life Within Canada." Each entry must thematically address our province's Confederation with Canada. The competition will be comprised of three separate categories: Essay/Prose; Poetry; and, Graphic Art.

Entries will be organized by grade level, with four divisions: K-3; 4-6; 7-9; and 10-12. Cash prizes of $100, $75 and $50 will be awarded for the top three entries in each category.

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, November 17, 1999 and the winners will be announced one month later on December 17. Full contest rules and regulations follow.

For more information, or to obtain a registration form, please visit the Soiree '99 web page at www.soiree99.nfld.net or call (709) 729-4897.

Media contact: George Earles, Public Relations/Communications, Soiree '99, (709) 729-4825

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BACKGROUNDER

Competition Regulations

1. Entries must be received or postmarked no later than 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 17, 1999.

2. Entrants must be school-aged residents of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and participate in one of the following school grade categories:

- Kindergarten - Grade Three
- Grade Four - Grade Six
- Grade Seven - Grade Nine
- Grade Ten - Grade Twelve

3. Only one entry per person may be submitted in any single category.

4. Entries must be the result of individual and original effort only.

5. Entries will not be returned to sender.

6. Soiree '99 is not responsible for the loss, damage, or theft of any entry.

7. The copyright remains the property of the competitor.

8. The awarding of any and all prizes remains at the discretion of the adjudicators and the Soiree '99 Youth Program.

9. Results of the competition will be announced on December 17, 1999.

10. Winning entries will be published in black and white (including graphic art) in our Soiree '99 Youth Essay, Poetry and Graphic Art Booklet. A copy of this booklet will be distributed to all schools and libraries throughout the province.

11. All entrants must complete and sign the attached Soiree '99 Youth Essay, Poetry and Graphic Art Competition Registration Form. Only entrants with signed Registration Forms will be considered for the Competition.

12. Entries should be forwarded to:

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BACKGROUNDER

Regulations For Individual Categories

Essay/Prose and Poetry Categories

- Entries must be submitted on 8 1/2 x 11 standard white paper.

- Entries must be typed and double spaced. (However, neatly handwritten and double spaced entries will be accepted.)

- Four-hundred words is the maximum length for the Kindergarten to Grade Three category.

- Two-thousand words is the maximum length for all other categories.

Graphic Art Category

- Entries should be no more than 8 1/2 x 11 inches in size and two dimensional in nature.

- The title of the entry and the name, address, and telephone number of the artist must be affixed to the back. However, works may also be signed in the usual manner.

For more information please visit the Soiree '99 web page at www.soiree99.nfld.net or call (709) 729-4897.

1999 10 01 3:50 p.m.