Youth In Action: 115,000 Young Malaysian Artists Illustrate A Greener Future For All
- Written by Media Outreach
- Faber-Castell champions creativity and sustainability among young Malaysians, empowering environmental awareness and advocacy through art.
- The Young Artist Award workshops saw a record-breaking four-year high in participation, reaching 77,000 students and 3,456 teachers across Malaysia.
PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 12 December 2024 - Faber-Castell Malaysia, a renowned advocate for learning and creativity, has successfully concluded the fourth year of its Young Artist Award 2024, with support from the Ministry of Education Malaysia.
Mr. Andrew Woon, Managing Director of Faber-Castell Malaysia, with the top 30 finalists of the Faber-Castell Young Artist Award 2024.
Certified by the Malaysia Book of Records as the ‘Largest Young Artist Colouring Contest’, this year’s programme saw remarkable growth with submissions more than doubling from last year, garnering over 115,000 entries from schools nationwide.
In line with Faber-Castell’s commitment to sustainability, the Young Artist Award serves as a platform that encourages environmental advocacy and nurtures creativity among young artists. This year’s theme, “Ensuring Sustainable Growth Together”, inspired participants to imagine a greener future, fostering compassion, awareness, and responsibility for the environment through art.
Empowering Young Changemakers Through Art
The Young Artist Award 2024 welcomed entries across three age groups: Category A (5 to 8 years old), Category B (9 to 12 years old), and Category C (13 to 17 years old). Through three contest rounds, students engaged with environmental-focused topics and showcased their unique perspectives on sustainable practices through their art. Grand Winners in each category were awarded RM2,000, Faber-Castell products worth RM500, a custom trophy, and the title of Young Artist Ambassador for Faber-Castell Malaysia.
Empowering their creative journey, participants attended masterclasses led by expert artists from MY Art Studio and MY Craft Studio. Beyond art, each workshop embedded sustainability teachings alongside themes of eco-friendly living, empathy and community engagement. The workshops not only nurtured artistic talents, but also inspired participants to grow as responsible, compassionate individuals. For many, the workshops expanded their artistic skills and strengthened their understanding of environmental themes. Notably, over 77,000 students took part in the workshops, which were conducted both online and in person.
In line with this year’s contest theme of sustainability, Faber-Castell has also forged a partnership with Gamuda Land, an eco-friendly developer, to facilitate educational field trips and hands-on activities. Ahead of the final round, the top 30 finalists were invited to Paya Indah Wetlands, one of Malaysia’s protected Wetlands Reserve, where they joined handicraft workshops and explored the reserve’s natural landscapes, gaining an appreciation for Malaysia’s biodiversity and interconnected ecosystems. This immersive experience sparked new ideas, especially for urban students, enabling them to incorporate nature-inspired motifs into their artwork.
The Young Artist Award offers a two-pronged approach to enhance the teacher’s teaching techniques with the Art Experience Teacher’s Edition and the student’s learning process through the competition. The Art Experience Teacher’s Edition introduced teachers to different art materials and mediums to encourage creativity in the classroom. In 2024, the program has engaged over 3,456 teachers nationwide.
Young Voices for Environmental Change
The Young Artist Award encouraged students to look beyond traditional art, fostering critical thinking on sustainability and environmental advocacy. The programme culminated in a sustainability-themed colouring contest, where participants showcased their newly honed skills, reflecting their visions for a sustainable future. Their artworks embodied a deeper understanding of environmental issues, blending artistic skill with their commitment to change.
Chan Ellen, the Grand Winner of Category C (13 to 17 years old) shared that her piece reflects her ambition to become an environmental scientist. Featuring a vibrant depiction of nature and technology coexisting in harmony, Ellen envisions a future where innovation drives sustainability. “The workshops not only helped me hone my artistic skills but also inspired me to think deeply about how I can use my passion and future career to contribute to a greener world,” she said.
For Ooi Joelle, the Grand Winner of Category B (9 to 12 years old), the trip to Paya Indah Wetlands was an eye-opening experience that directly influenced her winning piece – a lush, thriving landscape intertwined with symbols of sustainable living. Joelle shared, “It was a meaningful and...
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