Art Contest @ CNN en Español.

CNN en Español continues to support young artists in Latin America by offering university-level students the opportunity to participate in the network’s third regional Art Contest. Sponsored by Apple, VISIONES CONVERGENTES (“Converging Visions”), launched Monday, May 5, and CNN en Español invites students from art and design schools to imagine a world where all their hopes and dreams converge – their aspirations for their countries or region, with the chance to build a better tomorrow. Students will be encouraged to capture their feelings in a work of fine arts (painting or sculpture), photography or digital art.

“Our last art contest was very successful, growing from 300 entries in 1999 to 3000 in 2001. Artists, educators and students alike tell us that this contest is important to the Latin American artistic community, and we hope to receive even more entries this year,” said Christopher Crommett, executive vice president and general manager of CNN en Español. “We view the Art Contest as a positive expression of CNN en Español’s commitment to Latin America’s youth, and its artistic expression and culture.”

“We are delighted to have as our advertising partner Apple, who have made this very worthwhile project a reality,” said Gretchen Colón, senior vice president of advertising sales for Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) Latin America, Inc.

“Apple has a long tradition of supporting education and developing tools preferred by creative individuals in numerous fields,” stated Javier Vargas, Managing Director of Apple Latin America/Caribbean. “Visiones Convergentes promises to be a wonderful venture that will indeed converge the works of young artists within their educational pursuits.”

Based on the volume of entries received in 2001, this year CNN en Español has created three distinct categories: fine art, photography, and digital art. There will be a first place prize and nine finalists in each category. The winners will be announced in November during a half-hour television special dedicated to the Art Contest. In addition, all winners and finalists will have their work exhibited in a special section on CNNenEspañol.com and CNN.com.mx, the network’s site targeted to Mexican users.

In addition to benefiting from pan-regional on-air and online exposure, the first-prize winners will receive a trip to New York, which includes admission to three major art museums. The nine finalists will each receive a package of CNN en Español branded merchandise.

Entries will be accepted through September 15, 2003, and the winners will be announced on CNN en Español, CNNenEspanol.com and CNN.com.mx on November 20, 2003.

The winning pieces will be selected by a distinguished panel of pan-regional judges based on factors including creativity, originality, quality and appropriateness to the theme.

Judges on this year’s panel include: Daniel Mamam, director and owner of the MAMAM Museum of Argentina; Mercedes Iturbe, director of the Museum of Fine Arts in Mexico; renowned Chilean photographer Maria Gracia Subercaseaux; Andrés Garay, director of the Nacho López School of Photography in Mexico; Tatiana Papazian, the winner of the last CNN en Español Art Contest (Instantes Perdurables); Fabio Fenandes, CEO of Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi Brazil; Raul Cardos, vice president of creative at Gilbert DDB in Mexico; renowned Venezuelan graphic artist Jusef Merhi; Humberto Polar, vice president of creative at Lowe in Colombia; and Roberto Fonfria, vice president of creative at ARS Darcy in Venezuela, among others.