Sunshine Coast, 16 February 2023: Sunshine Plaza has launched its Sunshine Arts Fest, a high school competition that celebrates the region’s brightest creative young minds, providing the community with the opportunity to interact with their art installations using augmented reality (AR).
With the support of the Sunshine Arts Fest Artist Ambassador, Sarah Sculley, six successful schools will be guided through the creative process to create a visually engaging installation and enhance their story telling through an AR experience. Schools will design and install their interpretation of the competition’s annual theme, Let the Sunshine In.
The installations will be displayed at Sunshine Plaza from June this year and independent judges, as well as votes from the public, will determine the winning schools who will share in the $5,000 prize pool.
High schools within the Sunshine Coast region are encouraged to submit their applications online to be considered for one of the six places available. Applications must be received by 6pm on 28 February 2023 and successful schools will be notified by 6 March.
Sunshine Plazahas partnered with headspace Maroochydore on this initiative to raise awareness of the importance of youth mental health and wellbeing, donating one dollar* to support local youth art programs, for every online vote received as part of Sunshine Arts Fest.
For more information and to apply online, visit www.sunshineartsfest.com.
Quote attributed to Centre Manager, Michael Manwaring:
“Since opening our doors in 1994, Sunshine Plaza has always been a place where the Coast connects – whether it’s the community enjoying the region’s premier retail, dining, entertainment, and tourism destination, encouraging dance and music through five years of the Breakthru school competition or offering activations, sustainable initiatives, and community services.
“Sunshine Arts Fest creates a new opportunity for the Centre to contribute to the creativity of students, encouraging emerging technologies and providing a platform for our bright young minds to engage with the broader community.”
Quote attributed to Sunshine Arts Fest Artist Ambassador, Sarah Sculley:
“I am delighted to be part of Sunshine Arts Fest as we celebrate the next generation of creatives and encourage them to explore new digital skills that can be transferred into jobs of the future.
“There are not many opportunities to play in this space so having a local creative competition with a generous prize pool is really exciting and I look forward to working with the six successful schools to showcase how AR can create a truly interactive experience for visitors to Sunshine Plaza.”
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Tamara Lovelace
State Manager – Lendlease External Affairs
0427 226 316 | tamara.lovelace@lendlease.com
Note to editors:
The Australian Government’s Digital Economy Strategy 2030 estimates that 250,000 new jobs will be created by digitisation by 2025. Sunshine Plaza recognises the need to invest in developing the youth talent and skills crucial to meeting the needs of the rapidly growing Sunshine Coast region and preparing students to compete in an ever-evolving digital world.
Australian Government Digital Economy Strategy 2030
*The final donation to headspace is capped at $5,000.
