Professionals and budding artists are being asked to put their talents on display at the National Gallery’s Chalkfest, an annual event that it is hosting with the CNCF. This year’s event will be held at the old Tree House in George Town on Sunday, 23 April, beginning at 1:00 pm.

Leading Cayman-based law firm, Walkers, is the exclusive sponsor of Chalkfest, just one of the many events the firm supports as part of the Walkers’ Children & the Arts Programme. The programme is dedicated to encouraging the greater involvement of children in the local arts community.

Walkers has sponsored Chalkfest since 2004 and is very pleased to be able to provide the National Gallery with public relations and human resources support as well as financial assistance. Participants are beckoned to use the pavement as their canvas and have been promised several prizes if their work emerged the best.

The individual categories are: Preschoolers (under 5), Lower primary (5-7), Upper primary (8-10), Middle (11-12), Teens (13-18), Adults (19+). Group categories are Family and Corporate. There is no limit on number of chalkers in the group categories and individual categories are limited to one entrant per category, said the event’s hosts.

There will be first, second and third prizes awarded in each category, and all winners will receive a gift bag courtesy of the National Gallery and Walkers. Participants enter the contest free and artists will be assigned on a first come first serve basis on the day.

Chalk will be given free of charge pending availability of supplies and chalking areas. Interested individuals are encouraged to bring rags, sponges and buckets to help with blending and covering large areas. Free water and sunscreen compliments of Progressive Distributors will be available to all participants. Deutsche Bank’s National Gallery Intern (2005-2006), Letitia Davis-Eden is organising the event.

“I am so excited that I have been given the opportunity to organize Chalkfest 2006. Street chalking is a public art form that can amuse or challenge a passer-by,” she said. “It is an annual event that gives both professional and non-professional artists the ability to express themselves publicly, and to make the streets come alive with art. “We would like to thank Walkers for their continued support and for their sponsorship to help make this event possible,” she added.