‘Gannet On Clogherhead Beach With Ping Pong Bat’ by Anya Clarke-Carr from Ratoath has been chosen to go on exhibition at the 21st International High School Arts Festival in Tokyo.

Young Ratoath artist to have work displayed in Tokyo

John Donohoe

Published: Wed 29 Jul 2020, 12:31 PM

Last updated: Wed 29 Jul 2020, 12:32 PM

A PRIZE-WINNING artwork by Anya Clarke-Carr (15) from Ratoath, will be one of four Irish paintings to go on exhibition at the 21st International High School Arts Festival which takes place in Tokyo from 5th August next.

Entitled ‘Gannet On Clogherhead Beach With Ping Pong Bat’ the piece was a winning entry in last year’s 65th Texaco Children’s Art Competition – the current year’s competition having been forced into suspension before judging could be completed due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The International High School Arts Festival is one of the most prestigious exhibitions to take place in Tokyo annually. Described as ‘a showcase for the world’s best young artistic talent’, it will feature some 400 artworks by students representing nations across the world.

Sponsored by the International Foundation for Arts and Culture, the opening ceremony for this year’s exhibition will take place behind closed doors due to Covid-19 and will be broadcast live via YouTube.

The current 2020 Texaco Children’s Art Competition – which would have been the 66th in the long-running history of the event and for which entries were received and preliminary judging had taken place – was forced into suspension due to Covid-19 restrictions before final judging could be completed and winners announced. According to organisers it remains the intention to complete the process and announce winners as soon as conditions allow.