The winning entry, entitled ‘Duck’, was created by Tomas Spusta and Martin Kratochvil of Slovakia. Their sculpture was made from local natural materials such as wood and grass.

Nineteen children, along with their mentors, came to vienna for a weekend full of cultural and environmental programmes, as well as fun and games. These national winners represented 11 danube basin countries in the danube art Master competition, which was once again organised by the ICPDR and the danube Environmental Forum.

Over 4000 artworks were entered in this year’s competition. “I am proud to learn that there is more and more interest in this project,” said Philip Weller, Executive Secretary of the ICPDR.

The winners’ trip to Vienna was organised by the Global Water Partnership Hungary and supported by Coca- Cola HBC and Coca-Cola Company through the Green Danube Partnership.

The programme began with a three-hour guided sightseeing tour of the city, which finished with a bird’seye-view of the heart of the city from the top of the Danube Tower. The following day the Art Masters took a special children’s tour of Schönbrunn Palace. The children travelled back to the time of Franz Joseph and Sissy to experience the imperial way of life by trying on typical costumes of the epoch, accompanied of course by characteristic wigs and fans. The children enjoyed being in the shoes of the Habsburg emperors, sitting on thrones and taking hundreds of pictures. After this excursion into history, the children went on to the Marionette Theatre for a beautifully performed puppet show set to the music of Strauss.

Winning friends and making memories. The spell of the waltz lingered as the programme continued with the long-awaited moment: awarding the Danube Art Master International Winner. “You all should be very proud of your achievements,” said Weller, “and whoever the international winner will be, you should know that all of you are winners.”

While in Vienna, the Danube Art Masters were in the audience for a special puppet show set to the music of Strauss at the Marionette Theatre of Vienna, and travelled back in time at Schönbrunn Palace to try out life as Emperors and Empresses. The last day of the Danube Art Masters’ trip to Vienna was spent exploring the splendour and mysteries of water life at the National Museum of Natural History.

After each child received a National Winner’s diploma and a framed picture of their work, Weller announced the International Winners: Tomas Spusta and Martin Kratochvil of Slovakia for their artwork entitled ‘Duck’. Their artistic sculpture depicts a majestic duck watching over the Danube River, creatively made from local natural materials such as wood and grass. Other prize-winning submissions at the national level included Moldava’s ‘The Danube Lives through Us’ – a composition depicting a person connected intravenously to a jar of river water – and Germany’s ‘Mermaid’ sculpture.

Exploring the river and its inhabitants. The ceremony was followed by a trip to the Schönbrunn Zoo, where the children were enchanted to see exotic and rare animals. After the zoo, the children competed in several challenging games – they had to identify the flags of the countries of the Danube River Basin, to put together water related puzzles and describe or draw specific features of certain Danube countries. The children were drawn into
these entertaining games, but the mentors also entered the fun and helped their students. In the end all the children received small prizes.

The last day of the trip was spent exploring the splendour and mysteries of water life at the National Museum of Natural Science. The Art Masters took a ‘water tour’ at the museum where they had a glimpse into the life of the Danube River and interesting aspects related to life in the ocean and its creatures. “The Danube Art Master is not only about fun,” said Ivan Sudar, age 15, Danube Art Master National Winner from Croatia, “but about learning a lot about the Danube as well.”

The winners’ weekend ended in front of the museum, where, instead of saying goodbye, a group picture was taken, a picture symbolic of the friendships that were forged during these few but very full days.

“I hope that you will return to your countries with nice memories, new friendships and that you will continue to be Danube Ambassadors,” said Weller.

“The danube art Master is not only about fun,” said Ivan sudar, age 15, danube art Master National winner from croatia, “but about learning a lot about the danube as well.”

Teodora Artimon is a Master’s student at Central European University in Budapest and a permanent student helper with the Global Water Partnership.