CONNECT, PARTICIPATE AND CELEBRATE DURING YOUTH WEEK

Join in the fun of Youth Week 2023, which will be celebrated in Orange from 19 to 22 April.

The theme this year is ‘Connect. Participate. Celebrate’ and there are plenty of community activities for local young people to enjoy.

Orange City Council Services Policy Committee Chair, Cr Mel McDonell said it’s an important time in Orange for young people.

“Youth Week offers a platform for young people to voice their opinions and perspectives while taking action on issues that impact their lives, such as homelessness,” Cr McDonell said.

“Youth week is organised by young people for young people and all the activities are free, so I encourage everyone to join and be a part of Youth Week,” Cr McDonell said.

A Skate Park Jamwill take place at John Lomas Skate Park from noon to 3pm on 19 April and is open to all ages. Participants can enjoy a barbecue while browsing information stalls that will feature organisations like Veritas House, providing insights into youth homelessness.

A Fun Day will be held at Orange Showground from 10am to 2pm on 20 April. This outdoor event is free and open to all ages, with activities such as a barbecue, live DJ, rock-climbing wall, inflatable games, makeup workshop and information bootsh.

A Youth Concert will be held in the CWA Hall from 4.30pm on 21 April, in collaboration with Headspace. Young people can join the conversation from 2pm at Pilcher Park and Elephant Park on 22 April as the blue tree and bench are officially unveiled. This event is part of a campaign to raise awareness of suicide prevention and mental health. A colour run will also be held at 3pm. Visit Council’s website for details of Youth Week events at https://www. orange.nsw.gov.au/events/.

The winners of Orange Art Society’s new annual figurative art competition have been announced.

Launching the art competition exhibition on Saturday, Grahame Martin was named winner of the inaugural competition receiving $1000 for his portrait, ‘Bill’.

Second prize went to Marilyn Hickey for her artwork, ‘Linocut’, and Anna Terziman received a highly commended for her artwork, ‘Mirror, Mirror’.

“From all accounts, it was a huge success – everyone had a really good time, and we were very impressed with the artworks,” Vice President of the Orange Art Society and committee member overseeing the Spirek competition, Jodie Geach said.

The competition attracted over 50 entries with an impressive variety of mediums, styles and interpretations of the human form on display.

“For a first event, we were really happy with that,” Jodie said. The competition is named for former Orange resident, artist and sculptor, Hank Spirek, who donated cash and artworks to the Orange Art Society prior to his departure from the Colour City.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Hank has been a working artist in five different countries over his long career. Well-known for his paintings of bird life, Hank’s favourite subject matter has always been the human form, and he hopes the annual prize might see more local artists pursue figurative work. Hank returned to Orange on the weekend to see the presentation of the inaugural winners.

Competition entries will remain on display at the Orange Art Society gallery (entry from the Woolworths carpark) until May 11, and many of them are for sale too.

“There’s really nice ones there, so it’s definitely worth a look,” Jodie said. “There might be something that catches your eye!”