Calling all young creative minds!

After last year’s success the Smart Alex creative writing competition is back.

Secondary School students in New Zealand can now enter the Smart Alex Creative writing competition.

This year will be the first time the competition will be tapping into the creativity of secondary school students in the Pacific Islands.

“This is the perfect avenue to connect our young minds with the taonga in our Turnbull collections.” says Kate Fortune, President of The Friends of the Turnbull Library.

“We’re excited to see what their imaginations, and creativity can produce by generating new ways of looking at our past, present and future.”

The competition and prize money of $3000 is made available through the generosity of the Friends of the Turnbull Library Ngā Hoa o te Whare Pukapuka Turnbull, and the support of Services to Schools.

Students have until 21 July to submit a piece of prose, poetry, or the written lyrics for a song waiata, or a combination of text and illustrations such as a cartoon strip or graphic story with inspiration coming from the collections.

There are two categories, Years 9–10 and Years 11–13. Competition entries are welcomed in English or te reo Māori. More details can be found here.

Alexander Turnbull– known as Alex – was born in Wellington, growing up to become a successful businessman and an amazing collector – of art, artefacts, clothes, coins, maps, photographs and books – especially books about New Zealand and the Pacific.

This year the 2019 Smart Alex creative writing competition also acknowledges the national commemoration Tuia Encounters 250 and its themes of cross-cultural encounters, dual heritage, shared futures, whakapapa and identity.

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