Unlocking the future through art

An opportunity for any Filipino college student to showcase their art

by Raffy Santamaria / September 20, 2021

One of the many things the pandemic shouldn’t deprive students from is getting in touch with their artistic side. If anything, staying at home during the lockdown can also give them more time to expand their horizons in the different ways in which Art can be used as a way of coping during these unprecedented times.

From last year’s “Hope in Our Art” creations that depict hope through art, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation’s Shell National Students Art Competition (NSAC) takes on an equally relevant theme this year – restART, which encourages young artists to come up with art works that inspire and contribute to a stronger and better country.

Read also: Making art to create a hopeful nation

As Pilipinas Shell’s unwavering commitment to Philippine art, they introduce Juan Art Nation, a campaign that aims to broaden programs for their growing community of artists, through the 54th edition of Shell NSAC, one of the most prestigious art competitions in the Philippines for more than five decades. The 54th Shell NSAC is one of the longest-running student art competitions in the country. It is one of the programs under JUAN ART NATION which enables the youth and art community to convey their imagination into a tangible art form and serve as inspiration for Filipinos.

Participants need to bring forth their dreams, ideas, unique perspectives, and novel insights and foresights through art. They also get to choose from various art categories, including: Oil/Acrylic, Watercolor, Sculpture, and Digital Fine Arts.

Shell’s NSAC, which last year saw the participation of 1,500 art hopefuls, has been an enabler for artists to showcase their talent and vision, producing established artists like abstract National Artist of the Philippines awardee Jose Joya, expressionist painter Ang Kiukok, applied sculpture practitioner Leeroy New, realistic oil painter Ivan Roxas., and National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera.

Winners of the 54th Shell NSAC can win these prizes:

First Prize: Php60,000 cash, a limited Shell NSAC shirt and jacket, a gold medal, and a plaque
Second Prize: Php40,000 cash, a limited Shell NSAC shirt and jacket, a silver medal, and a plaque
Third Prize: Php30,000 cash, a limited Shell NSAC shirt and jacket, a bronze medal, and a plaque.

Read also: Celebrating art and hope at the 53rd Shell NSAC Awards

Recognizing the importance of art as a guide to the future, PSPC President and CEO Cesar Romero said, “We encourage the youth to actively take part in shaping the future of the Philippines, using art as a tool and guide. Shell is committed to help shape the country’s leaders of tomorrow; we therefore ask the youth to continue to bring inspiration through art and use that as a platform to keep the Philippines moving forward.”

The competition is open to college students and the deadline for entries is on October 1, 2021.  Winners will be announced through a virtual awarding ceremony via Zoom on November 24, 2021. For more details, please visit the Shell website.

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