Pupils from Kilmarnock primary schools have proved they’re a snap-happy lot by catching the attention of the Scottish Civic Trust in their annual national photo contest ‘My Place’.
Young photographers from Annanhill, Crosshouse, Gargieston Primary Schools and Park School impressed the Trust’s judges with their creativity and skill – no mean feat as over 300 other primary schools were taking part in the national contest. In particular, Park School’s photographs were noted as especially stunning as most of the shots had an atmospheric dusting of snow. Entries to the contest are now on display at the prestigious Lighthouse – Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture, in Glasgow. The Dick Institute in Kilmarnock is also staging an exhibition of the pupils’ work until Saturday 10 June, organised by the East Ayrshire Leisure Trust, the third year the Institute has held the exhibition in the Young Persons’ Gallery. The event is sponsored by local solicitors Mackintosh & Wylie, who were presented with a stunning framed photograph of the Dick Institute taken by Jonathon Downey, a P7 pupil from Gargieston Primary. Dylan Taylor, a pupil at Annanhill Primary said: “All the photos on display are really good. It was very kind of the Dick Institute to put them up on display and I really enjoyed the opening night”. Olivia Sharp, a pupil at Gargieston Primary added: “I took my photo in College Wynd and now I’m proud it’s on display in The Dick Institute”. Attending the exhibition launch, Alan Ward, East Ayrshire Council’s Head of Education said: “Encouraging young people to visualise and think about their town and to then produce quirky and imaginative images is an excellent idea, especially when it challenges their sense of place. “The contest stimulates their perception in a positive and creative way and has the additional benefit of involving the viewer, making them wonder where and why the picture was taken. “The quality of entries for this prestigious annual award has again exceeded expectations and the work on display at the Dick Institute is a real credit to all our pupils who took part. “It’s a great display of effort and skill and I’d encourage everyone to go along, free of charge, to see this fantastic body of work for themselves.”