Recession inspires new generation of BANKsys

WHAT:Chloe Madeley joins renowned artists and piggy-bank piñatas for exclusive youth-arts competition awards
WHERE:The Design Museum, London, SE1
WHEN:Tuesday May 25 2010, pre-event photos 6.00pm, winners announced 7.15pm
CONTACT:Katy Miller or Gabriella Jozwiak at YouthNet on 0207 250 5716 or 07766 660 755

The one-night-only event, sponsored by the Citi Foundation and Egg and hosted by Chloe Madeley, will exhibit artwork submitted by young people to illustrate how the recession has impacted them and their communities. The experiences, depicted by nine shortlisted artists include having to support an unemployed parent, witnessing an increase in crime and drug use, and wanting to ‘fight back’ to make a change.

Throughout the evening guests can get in on the action by donating two pence coins to shortlisted artist Chris Vickers, who will recreate a miniature version of his incredible bronze-coin shadow structure, ‘Times of Change’. Alternatively, they can relieve their financial frustration by clobbering piggy-bank piñatas or hanging sentiments on a ‘money tree’.

Those craving a less strenuous evening can relax as they’re served by waiting staff dressed as bankers in bowler hats, braces and moustaches and hear the inspiration behind the art work from the young artists themselves.

Managing Director of Saatchi & Saatchi Design and competition judge, Ashley Goodall, said, “We’ve been astounded by the quality of the entries and the level of thought that’s gone into them.

“The awards event will be a fitting celebration of the incredible young talent that has emerged from this competition in a fun-filled evening at a beautiful London location.”

Animation Director at Aardman Nigel Davies, vlogging phenomenon Charlie McDonnell and TV presenter Chloe Madeley are just some of the line-up of personalities presenting piggy bank awards with cheques for £1000 to the winner and £300 to the three runners-up.

Music for the evening is provided by DJ Nonames from renowned British hip-hop crew The Foreign Beggars.

The competition is run by online charity YouthNet, which provides vital support to young people through its service TheSite.org, and is supported through a generous donation by Egg and the Citi Foundation. Almost 100 entries were received in total.

Ends/
Media enquiries:
For further media information please contact Katy Miller or  Gabriella Jozwiak at YouthNet on 020 7250 5716 or out-of-hours on 07766 660 755.  Email media@youthnet.org

Notes to editors

1. YouthNet is the UK’s first exclusively online charity and was founded by Martyn Lewis CBE in        1995. It aims to create a socially inclusive environment where all young adults are engaged, informed and inspired to achieve their ambitions and dreams, and does this through three websites: TheSite.org, Do-it (do-it.org.uk) the UK’s leading volunteering website and Lifetracks.com, for young people making decisions about work, study or training
2. Run by young people’s charity YouthNet, TheSite.org is the online guide to life for 16 to 25 year-olds.  With over 2,000 articles written by experts and journalists, a series of blogs, podcasts and videos, a bespoke question and answer service (askTheSite) and a thriving online community, TheSite.org is the central place for young people to turn to for sound, straight talking, anonymous advice 24 hours a day
3. Every month, TheSite.org is visited by over 500,000 unique users, and receives around 800 questions on issues ranging from relationships to advice on housing. Content on TheSite.org is also available on mobile, at TheSite.org/mobile
4. The judging panel for the ‘LifeSupport: Change through art competition’ is made up of eight judges including Animation Director at Aardman, Nigel Davies; actor, Ed Speleers; Features Picture Editor at the Guardian, Sarah Gilbert; internet video blogger, Charlie McDonnell; the Managing Director of Saatchi and Saatchi Design, Ashley Goodall and artists Jimi Crayon, Matthew Stone and Jamie McKelvie
5. The Citi Foundation is committed to the economic empowerment of individuals and families, particularly those in need, in the communities where we work so that they can improve their standard of living. Globally, the Citi Foundation targets its strategic giving to priority focus areas: Microfinance and Microenterprise, Small and Growing Businesses, College and Careers, and Financial Capability and Asset Building. The Citi Foundation works with its partners in Microfinance and Microenterprise and Small and Growing Businesses to support environmental programs and innovations. Additional information can be found at www.citifoundation.com
6. Citi’s Office of Financial Capability combines the strength of Citi’s business, people and partnerships to empower individuals to achieve their personal finance goals and improve their quality of life.  Citi takes a holistic approach to Financial Capability that encompasses four elements critical to achieving sustainable results: 1) increasing financial literacy; 2) developing short-term and long-term financial plans; 3) increasing ability to select appropriate financial products or services to implement those plans; and 4) providing ongoing support that helps consumers redefine their financial goals over the course of their lives.  In 2004, Citi made an unprecedented 10-year, $200 million global commitment to support financial education.  As of 2010, the company has invested over $167 million in these efforts in 73 countries around the world
   Shortlisted entrants are:
   Film
   Times of Change Chris Vickers, 21 
   The Fightback starts here Andrea Bowie, 23
   Hidden Depths Nathan Briggs, 18
   Illustration
   Seven Months  Brigitte Sutherland, 23
   Work, Eat, Sleep… Stephen Hitchen, 25
   The Opulent Tiger Cynthia Chen Barbachano, 20
   Photo
   Ghost Town Connor Matheson, 17
   Draining the cash Hayley Hilario, 18
   The Road to no-where Jade Culling, 16.