THOUSANDS of pupils across Wales have entered an anti-racism arts competition whose closing date is today.
Judges will select the best film, painting and poetry submissions on March 18 and invite the artists to an awards ceremony at the Cardiff Marriott Hotel on April 27.
The winner last year by 14-year-old Oliwia Dulisz from St Joseph’s Catholic High School in Wrexham.
Welsh rugby player Non Evans and former Welsh rugby captain Colin Charvis will present the winners with their awards.
There were 10 categories in the Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC) competition and 72 schools in Wales took part.
The 20 winners and runners-up will receive a range of prizes including Kindles and match tickets to see their local sports teams.
Previous winners have received tickets to see Welsh national teams, the Scarlets and Cardiff City.
Sunil Patel, a SRTRC campaign manager said: “Once we look at the winners we work out where they are from and then decide what prizes to give them.
“We hope the competition is a good way for young people to learn about racism and to spread the anti racism message.
“The competition is a way to instil good values in the children. We want young people to get a better understanding of the issue.”
Schools from 21 of the 22 unitary authorities in Wales entered the competition with 2,500 students taking part in total.
Show Racism the Red Card introduced a refugee category to the competition two years ago building on the charity’s other work in this area.
Mr Patel said: “The refugee category is a good way for young people to understand the concerns of refugees coming over here.
“It compliments the school workshops about refugees we started five months ago. The entries are about issues faced by refugees and are intended to counter negative images.”
In previous years, famous footballers have attended the ceremony and Mr Patel said this is likely to happen again this year.
This is the 10th year of the competition and five judges will be selecting the winners. One judge will come from the National Union of Teachers which funds the competition.
