Niš, 22 December 2023
Greener future is in the safe hands of the youth
Lena Gligorić, a student at the School of Applied Arts in Šabac, has won the first prize in the annual art competition and will be featured prominently as the cover artist in the EU PRO Plus 2024 Calendar. The second and third places were secured by Ksenija Tošić from the Art School in Niš and Aleksa Potić from the "Prota Stevan Dimitrijević" Technical School in Aleksinac. Their works, as evaluated by both the public and expert judges, were hailed as the most standout responses, amongst the 12 artwork featured in the calendar, to this year's competition theme—"Creating a Greener Future!".
The School of Textile and Leather Design in Novi Pazar has also earned recognition as the top school, celebrated for its active involvement and commitment to nurturing students' talent in preparing artistic works.
This traditional competition, jointly organised by the European Union (EU) Delegation in Serbia, the Ministry of European Integration, and UNOPS, has inspired high school students to channel their creative energies toward shaping a greener future for all. Through their artistic expressions, they have showcased their skills and envisioned future careers in the realm of the circular economy, emphasising ways to contribute to waste reduction, recycling, reusing old items, and fostering societal shifts in the pursuit of environmental conservation.
"This year's EU PRO Plus art competition has showcased the incredible potential of our young artists in shaping a greener future. These artworks are not just visual treats but powerful statements on sustainability and the principles of circular economy, a key focus of the EU's environmental strategy. Your work exemplifies the very essence of innovation and environmental consciousness. You are not only artists but ambassadors of change, leading the way in environmental conservation and circular economy practices", said Manuel Munteanu, Head of Information, Communication and Media of the EU Delegation to Serbia while congratulating the winners and all participants of the Art Competition.
The art competition, open from 17 October to 17 November, received 149 artwork submissions from 39 high schools within the coverage area of the EU PRO Plus programme.
"The winners of this year's competition are not only gifted artists but also possess the knowledge to enhance environmental quality, recycle, and repurpose old items to create something new and useful. In essence, you are the catalysts of positive change for the future, especially in the realm of environmental protection, and your exemplary contributions inspire us all to actively engage in one of the most globally significant topics," emphasised Slobodan Aleksić from the Ministry of European Integration. Aleksić underscored the invaluable role of teachers who have been nurturing students' participation in this competition for many years, fostering their creativity.
"The calendar art competition was inaugurated in 2010 when the European Union's local development programme encompassed 25 cities and municipalities. Over the past 13 years, as our programme expanded to include 99 cities and municipalities, we've had the privilege of witnessing the growth and development of generations of high school students who have participated in the art competition. Your ideas consistently motivate us to excel in our work and strive to meet the needs of young people," emphasised Olivera Kostić, Manager of the EU PRO Plus programme.
In addition to the top three winning artworks, the EU PRO Plus programme calendar for the upcoming year will feature artworks by Dunja Nogić from Aleksinac, Anja Terzić and Mina Tomović from Kraljevo, Ana Tošić and Petra Mladenović from Leskovac, Kalina Rakonjac from Nova Varoš, Vildana Vejsilović from Novi Pazar, Anastasija Božilović from Surdulica, and Stefana Glumac from Vrnjačka Banja. Students were rewarded for their achievements with laptops, tablet computers, and mobile phones, while the School of Textile and Leather Design in Novi Pazar received a laptop and a projector.