Dubai, UAE, 24 October 2023: The highly anticipated ‘Arcadia Book in a Box’ competition returns to inspire creativity and imagination among primary school students in the UAE. 

 

Organized by the Emirates Literature Foundation, in collaboration with Arcadia School, this unique event fosters collaborative learning, recycling efforts, and literary exploration as participants create dioramas representing their chosen books or book scenes using recycled materials. Kicking off the competition on the right note, Arcadia launched the competition with a workshop at their school, featuring the artist and curator, Ahmed Al Enezi.

 

The 'Arcadia Book in a Box' competition encourages teachers and students to embark on a collective journey of visual storytelling aiming to showcase the originality of young minds, emphasizing the importance of recycling and creativity in education.

 

After collectively reading the chosen book, students of the same class collaborate on dioramas crafted solely from recycled or natural materials, like sand, shells, or driftwood. Each class collaborates to create a shared 'Book in a Box' masterpiece. Submissions, due by 12 January 2024, should include a brief explanation of the book's selection and representation. Judging criteria encompass creativity, imagination, originality, use of recycled materials, and relevance to the book or scene. The panel of judges, including a representative from Arcadia School, the competition sponsor, and selected Festival authors and illustrators, will determine shortlisted entries. The final judging and award ceremony will be held on 5 February, 2024, during the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature (31 January – 6 February 2024). 

 

The competition is open to full-time students in UAE schools, with only primary school classes eligible to enter, allowing for one submission per class.