OTS - Uniting Europe digitally: 50 years of arts support from 'jugend creativ' celebrated during gala event / patron Iris Berben: "The youth competition is a shining example of corporate citizenship" (part 1)
2020. September 10. 14:00
Berlin, 10 September, 2020 (APA/OTS) - The local cooperative banks'
international youth competition, 'jugend creativ', has been
motivating children and young people across Europe to explore
social issues through creativity for half a century. Since the
first competition was held in 1970, a total of 90 million
international entries have been submitted - equivalent to 700
soccer pitches covered in art. The youth competition is thus the
biggest of its kind worldwide and has become a cornerstone of
support for young people and the arts. The cooperative banks'
long-term initiative was acknowledged during an international gala
event, which was streamed live from the TIPI AM KANZLERAMT theater
in Berlin on September 9, 2020.
A total of more than 700 guests joined the online event from
countries around the world - including the seven participating
European countries Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy (South
Tyrol), Luxembourg, and Switzerland to celebrate 50 years of
'jugend creativ'. The international winners in the 50th youth
competition, whose theme was 'Happiness is…', were also announced.
"The international youth competition clearly illustrates what
long-term commitment means. For the past five decades, we have been
collaborating with cooperative banks from six other European
countries to encourage creativity in children and young people and
thereby support the provision of education in schools. At times of
social upheaval, creative thinking is needed more than ever. It is
very important to us that we continue to encourage it through the
youth competition going forward," said Marija Kolak, President of
the Bundesverband der Deutschen Volksbanken und Raiffeisenbanken
(BVR) [National Association of German Cooperative Banks], who
hosted the international gala event on behalf of the participating
countries in this anniversary year.
Actor Iris Berben, patron of the 50th competition, sent a
message of congratulations by video: "The youth competition is a
shining example of corporate citizenship that promotes European
solidarity, making it tangible for young people. I became patron of
this initiative because I believe in its aims. My wish is for the
competition to carry on for at least another 50 years so that
children and young people can continue giving free rein to their
creativity."
Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the Parliament for the
German-speaking Community of Belgium and, until January 2020,
President of the European Committee of the Regions, also provided a
message of congratulations, having been one of the international
winners in the first year of 'jugend creativ' when he was 18.
"Maintaining a competition like this for half a century, and
ensuring it continues to evolve, deserves huge respect and says a
great deal about how the cooperative banks and their national
association perceive themselves," he said. "This dedication, this
investment in the younger generation is extremely significant and
worth emulating. It is an investment in the future in the truest
sense of the word."
Student from German school among the international competition
winners
'Happiness is…' was the theme of the 50th competition, which
attracted around 651,000 international submissions. This figure
included more than 541,000 submissions from Germany alone. One of
the twelve international winners was Kim-Melina from Hoisdorf,
Schleswig-Holstein. She was awarded a prize for her picture
'Happiness is a puzzle', securing second place internationally in
the 15 to 20-year-olds age group. "Being one of the prizewinners
means a huge amount to me, not just because the 'jugend creativ'
competition has been part of my life for so long but also because
this is the last time that I'm taking part and the theme of
happiness is a very, very personal one for me," explained the
20-year-old. Claudia from Austria and Zora from Switzerland came
first and third in this age group.
In the youngest age group, six to eight-year-olds, Alexander
from Finland took first place, followed by Marie Theres from Italy
in second place and Linoa from Switzerland in third place. Among
the nine to ten-year-olds, Theresa from Austria was delighted with
first place. Saaga from Finland was awarded second prize, while
Sophia from Switzerland was third. In the 11 to 14-year-olds age
group, first prize went to Wilma from Finland, second to Sofia from
Switzerland, and third to Martin from France. All of the
international winners receive the traditional 'jugend creativ'
trophy, which took the form of a golden loop in the anniversary
year. (continues)