Are you keen on painting or drawing? Have air sports always made you dream? Are you concerned about environmental issues? If so, then pick up your pens, pencils or brushes and enter the 2016 FAI Young Artists Contest. The aim is to create a picture that illustrates this years’ theme “Air Sports in Harmony with Nature”, and to show the world just how talented you are.

Intermediate Category 2015: 2. Yana SERGEYCHIK (Russia)

Youngsters from three age categories: Junior (6-9), Intermediate (10-13), Senior (14-17) are invited to participate.

The 2016 theme: Air Sports in Harmony with Nature

The beauty of the earth is never clearer than when seen from the air. Every day, thousands of people flying in airliners look at the earth with a new perspective from above. Another group of boys, girls, men and women involved in air sports are fortunate to have a special view of the grandeur below them as the soar in gliders or float through the air in balloons. Others feel the rush of air as they parachute down to a beautiful field or cross the sky in an ultralight or helicopter.

From above, the fullness of nature is seen in ways unknowable from the ground. Helicopters give tours of the inaccessible rivers and canyons as balloons float across home towns, each giving new insight into how land, water, animals, and people share their environments. From the air, one is able to take pictures and film land that would otherwise never be seen. Aircraft do this without the need for roads. An airport or open field will do for the intrepid aviator.

While the air sport participants enjoy this freedom, they also must be very good neighbours to all the people and animals and the environment. This is especially important as they take-off and land. Air sports enthusiasts are happy to do this because the beauty of the earth is one of the reasons they love flying so much.

So grab your favourite pen or brush capture the connection between the land and the air. Create a work of art that shows air sports and nature in harmony. Good luck!

How to enter the contest?

The contest takes place in two phases, the details of which can be found below. You should first check the details and the deadline for submission of your work by contacting the FAI member in your country. Each country will select the three best illustrations in each category: Junior (6-9), Intermediate (10-13), Senior (14-17) and forward them to the FAI by 1 April 2016. An International Jury will then select the world winners in each category who will be rewarded respectively with Gold, Silver or Bronze FAI medals.

The artwork will be exhibited at the prestigious Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, USA and may be used by the FAI on other occasions.

About the FAI Young Artists Contest

The FAI Young Artists has been organised each year since 1986 to promote air sports amongst youth, to raise awareness of the different aspects of aviation whilst at the same time providing the opportunity to show off skills and personality through art.

FAI Members organise either a national competition or another similar process of selection for the young people resident in their respective countries. The national winning paintings are then submitted to the International Jury. A different theme is chosen every year to inspire the young artists and reflect the many facets of air sports.

• Theme of the FAI Young Artists Contest
• Rules for the FAI Young Artists Contest
• History of FAI Young Artists Contest Winners
• Guidelines for FAI Young Artists Contests