Call for entries to Christmas Card Competition

13 October 2009
The Department of Corrections is calling for entries from prisoners to its Christmas Art Competition 2009. Entries close on Monday 2 November and the winning entry or entries will be used as the Department’s official Christmas cards.

The theme of the competition is “a traditional Christmas with a New Zealand focus” and might include, for example: Father Christmas, angels, pohutukawa trees, Christmas tree, the beach, family, barbecues, sunny weather, three wise men, nativity scene, stars, presents, beach, Christmas lunch or dinner, playing beach cricket etc

Each prisoner can submit up to four entries. Each entry must have the prisoners’ name on the back with a signed consent form attached. Names or signatures are not to appear on the artwork.

Up to five designs may be selected. The prizes are $100 per winning design, to be paid to the winner’s trust account. Another $200 per winning design will be paid to the respective prison to buy art materials.

The winning designs will be selected by the Department’s Chief Executive Barry Matthews. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

The aim of the competition is to:
•    promote the talents of prisoners
•    recognise the efforts that art programmes and their tutors make to support prisoners’ rehabilitation
•    provide official Christmas cards that reflect the Department’s core aims. 

The size of the artwork must not be smaller than A5 and not larger than A3. It must be on paper or card, and can be a drawing, sketch, painting, watercolour or screen print.

Artworks must be received at national office by 2 November 2009. Winners will be notified and all art returned. There is no limit on the number of entries a prison can submit. Download an entry form here.

All entries must be sent to Julie Lemisio, Department of Corrections, 44–52 The Terrace, Private Box 1206, Wellington 6140.  For more information, please contact Julie (T: 04 460 3095 E: ).