TENI are delighted to support a new art competition for trans, non-binary and gender nonconforming young people aged 20 and under! The competition is to celebrate the life of the artist Jordan Howe, who sadly passed away 10 years ago this year. Her work has been displayed at Transfusion many times. Jordan was also an accomplished musician and her remixes of Lady Gaga songs were well known.

The winning entry will have their work displayed alongside Jordan’s at the Millennium Court Arts Centre in Portadown. They will also be featured in the Pride issue of GCN!

Young artists (aged 20 and under) are being invited to submit their work to a nationwide art competition to celebrate the life of Jordan Howe. Artists should create an original piece using their preferred style and methods, guided by the theme “Being the Artist I Am…” We invite artists to consider any or all of the following;

• Your own identity
• Your sense of pride, identity and self as an artist
• Your life journey so far
• What creativity means to you and does for you

and

• Your hopes and dreams

Jordan Howe was a young trans artist from Northern Ireland. Her work explored themes of identity and, femininity.

It was often abstract or surreal. Her art was often presented with pop culture references and experimental visual techniques.

Working in mixed media, but primarily painting as a visual artist, Howe was also heavily involved in music production and composed many original works.

She was known for her unique remixes of Lady Gaga and other musicians. A “looking back exhibition” on Jordan’s work, ‘Clarity of the Stars: A Retrospective on the work of Jordan Howe’ will be held in July 2024 at Millennium Court Arts Centre in Portadown near Lurgan, Co Armagh, where Jordan grew up.

The winning entry will be presented in the gallery, receive a full page in the exhibition’s colour printed catalogue and be featured in GCN.

All entries have the chance to be included in future events and exhibitions organised by TENI in 2024 and 2025. This competition is kindly supported by Millennium Court, TENI and GCN.

Rules of entry:

• All applicants must be 20 years of age and under on the 5th of May 2024.
• All applicants need to complete and sign the authorisation form (artists aged under 18 must have their parent/guardian sign the authorisation form) which is available from beingtheartistiamartcomp@gmail.com
• All mediums are accepted.
• Entries must arrive by email to beingtheartistiamartcomp@gmail.com with the following information; (i) photos of the work (ii) a short description/explanation of the work; (iii) a short description of the artist.
• Entries will be accepted from March 31st until May 5th until 11.59pm. All entrants sent after this period will unfortunately not be included.
• If artists wish to have their work printed in the catalogue in a collaged two page spread in the exhibition catalogue with other artists, they (or your parent/guardian if under 18) may state this in the entry form, giving permission.
• This competition is open only to young persons who are transgender, non-binary or gender non-conforming. Entrants should be living on the island of Ireland.