The Art of Safety

The road safety message is one that can never be taught too early, and for several years Bridgestone has encouraged children to express their understanding of the issue creatively. This year the tyre major is again holding its “dreams at heArt” children’s drawing contest as part of its global “safety at heArt” activities, and all children in Europe up to age 11 are eligible to enter.

There are three categories of entry, each with its own theme: up to and including 7; 8-9 and 10-11. Three overall winners will be selected from each age category, and numerous runner-up prizes will also be awarded. The first three overall winning entries will receive a Bridgestone bicycle with cycle helmet. Prizes for runners-up include Bridgestone tennis-sets and Safety kits.

The theme this year is: ‘Safe travel on planet Ecopia’, and Bridgestone poses the following questions: “Do you dream of a world in which you could breathe pure air everywhere? Where the water is always crystal clear? Where you could travel and be absolutely safe?” The challenge for the child is to set down his or her own vision of Planet Ecopia on paper. As an added incentive, each child who enters the competition will receive his or her own drawing printed on a T-shirt.

Entries will be judged on the basis of their visual impact and originality, says Bridgestone. Bold bright colours and original images will impress the judges. Pre-selection will be made by the educational service staff from the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, and the final judging panel consists of Mr. Lowie Vermeersch, chief designer of Pininfarina S.p.A., Mr. David Ward, director general of the FIA Foundation, and Dr Anne Adriaens-Pannier of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.

The theme for 2007, ‘How will we travel safely on holiday in the future?’ generated 37,555 entries from 20 countries. The distribution of packs for this year’s competition began on February 11, and drawings must be submitted by March 31. Further information can be found on the website www.dreamsatheart.eu.