Talented young artists are fashioning the final casts, cuts and hews to their amazing artworks as the deadline looms for the Wet Tropics Management Authority’s 'Keep it Wild' art competition this month.
The competition, now in its eighth year, reaches out to primary school children across the Wet Tropics to create fun and inventive original works inspired by our World Heritage Area.
This year's theme - 'Living Lightly' - sets entrants the tricky task of building a sculpture from rubbish that reflects sustainable living in the tropics.
Event organiser M’Lis Flynn says seeing how young people perceive their environment is always exciting.
"Last year’s competition had more than 120 artworks entered with students entering from across the Wet Tropics including Tully, Atherton, Port Douglas, Gordonvale and Woree," Ms Flynn says.
"We’re certainly looking forward to seeing more outstanding work this year."
This year’s competition aims to challenge people to reduce their waste in the Wet Tropics.
“Sometimes a young person’s perspective can make you reassess your own thoughts on an issue,” Ms Flynn says.
“The art entered manages to be both beautiful and thought provoking at the same time.”
The competition is split into two categories for students from prep to year three and from year four to six.
Selected eco-art will be displayed at the Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre from 19 June to 24 July.
Finalists and winners, along with their families and teachers, will be invited to attend a special awards ceremony on Friday 23 June 2017 at the visitor centre.
Winning class entries receive a variety of prizes courtesy of our sponsors Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Cairns Harbour and Sunset Cruises.
Second place finishers receive a tour of a Cairns transfer station courtesy of Cairns Regional Council.