Young artists across North Yorkshire are being given the chance to submit their work for a county-wide art competition as part of the region's annual youth art festival CultureShock. An exhibition marquee at the festival will display the top 24 works, chosen by a panel of art professionals, and a rolling digital projection will also show all the work submitted.

Young people are now being urged to enter the competition in a last call for visual art pieces. The closing date for submissions is May 14th with the work entered in four categories: painting and drawing; sculpture; digital/photography; mixed media. There are also four age categories: 13-14; 15-16; 17-19; 20-25.

Connecting Youth Culture, North Yorkshire County Council's youth arts team and the County Council's 4Youth Service believe a visual arts competition will help to raise the profile of the visual arts within the already well-established CultureShock Youth Arts Festival providing opportunities for young people to show off their considerable talents.

County Councillor Heather Garnett, North Yorkshire's Executive Member for Youth said: "CultureShock is now in its ninth year and has become a major event, a mini Glastonbury in the calendar for the region's young people. The visual arts are thriving in the area and we felt it was time to give young people the opportunity to show off a wealth of creativity in the visual as well as the performing arts."

CultureShock kicks off on July 3rd at Stone Cross Fields, Northallerton and will cater for a huge range of musical tastes from rap to acoustic with dozens of bands including Utah Saints, White Light Parade and The Squatters playing on the main stage and the Urban Village tent. There are also dozens of arts-based workshops such as dance, drama, graffiti, film, animation.

Young people can also enjoy the skate park, visit the Big Top to watch acts like the Japanese unicycling acrobats Witty Look or Australian Flame Oz and fire hula hoop duo the Cowgirls from Downunder or hang out in one of the festival tipis.

For the latest information as well as details for dropping-off locations for art works visit the festival website http://www.cultureshockfestival.co.uk