Love Laindon - Artwork Competition

Just before the coronavirus lockdown, Swan Housing Association was working with students from James Hornsby School to produce pieces of artwork with a ‘Love Laindon theme’. Unfortunately, due to the lockdown,  judging had to be done digitally. Swan Housing sent a press release to the local paper, the response from the paper I believe was poor, so just in case you missed it,  here is Swan Housing press release: –

Swan Housing Association announces winners for Laindon Place hoarding artwork competition.
Swan Housing Association remains dedicated to working with the local community in Laindon during the current lockdown we are all experiencing. The Laindon Place regeneration Project Team have worked with year 10 students at James Hornsby School since early this year to produce pieces of artwork with a ‘Love Laindon’ theme. The plan was for a selection of their artwork to be printed and displayed on the hoarding surrounding the site. Ten pieces of artwork were shortlisted and put on display just as the whole country entered lockdown.

Swan replaced a face-to-face event organised to celebrate the student’s work and select an overall winner with a digital alternative. A digital judging pack was circulated to the VIP guests who had planned to attend the cancelled event. John Baron MP, Mark François MP, a former student at the school, Deputy Mayor Cllr. Derrick Fellowes, local historian Ken Porter and Christine, a local resident who lives opposite the scheme helped to judge the entries.

We can now announce that the judges have selected their winning pictures (see below) and Swan has delivered the prizes to the school to distribute to the winning students. First place goes to Tabatha for her innovative picture of St. Nicholas Church; she has received £50 in vouchers. Second place goes to Alfie who photographed the school; he won £30 in vouchers. Third place was awarded to Alicia who photographed the road; she has received vouchers totalling £20.

Once lockdown is lifted, and life returns to normal the three winning students will be invited to have their photograph taken alongside their art.
Geoff Pearce, Swan’s Deputy Chief Executive said: “Swan’s Laindon Project team remain dedicated to ensuring the wider community are involved with the Laindon Place regeneration. The team were determined to find a way to recognise the student’s hard work even though there were restrictions on face-to-face engagement. The quality of the students’ artwork is outstanding and it will remain on display long after lockdown restrictions are lifted.”
John Baron MP who helped to judge the competition said “I commend Swan and the pupils at James Hornsby School on this excellent initiative to celebrate our local area. At this challenging time it makes even more sense to record our strong community spirit in this way, and I would like to extend my special congratulations to the winners.”

Councillor Derrick Fellows, Deputy Mayor of Basildon said: “It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to be asked to be one of the judges in this competition. Making my choices was far from easy, as there were so many amazing entries from very talented young people. In fact, Basildon is truly blessed with so much talent covering all of the “arts”, spanning the many generations.
As the Laindon Centre project is progressing, it is obvious it will be accompanied by necessary significant infrastructure upgrades, which regrettably will temporarily impact the local community, so I am very pleased that Swan have reached out and embraced the local community with this “art” project and displaying such talented work.”
Mr. Steel, Head Teacher at James Hornsby School said “We are so proud of our students contribution to the community. Thank you to Swan Housing for inviting us to be part of this unique project. We have really enjoyed being a part of this great opportunity.”
Mrs Frend, Head of Creative Arts at James Hornsby School said “Our Year 10 photography students have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the “Love Laindon” project. It is fantastic to see their photography work displayed in the local area, and to show their amazing talents. We are extremely proud of all their entries and hope that everyone in the local community will visit and enjoy their work for years to come.”