The designs for the four strips to be worn by the teams playing in the Forest Pitch matches on 21 July 2012 were unveiled at the Scottish Football Museum today, Tuesday 7 February 2012. The announcement was made by Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport.

Following a nationwide primary school competition, which saw over 2,000 young people submit designs, a shortlist of 30 was selected, all of which will be on show in an exhibition at the Scottish Football Museum from today until 15 July 2012. The four winning designs were created by: 10-year old Kerr Carlyle from Dalmilling Primary School, Ayr; 11-year old Anah Dodds from Letham Primary School, Fife; 10-year old Mia Gordon from Edinburgh Academy, Edinburgh and 9-year old Amelia Purkis from Lilliesleaf Primary School, Melrose. 10-year old Ben Logan from Maxwellton Primary School, East Kilbride received a special commendation.

The football strip design competition was run in partnership with Education Scotland and supported teachers in developing Curriculum for Excellence. The pupils were asked to respond to key themes being explored in Forest Pitch including: Diversity and what this means in the environment and in Scottish society; Mythology & Collective Memory – how do myths develop? National Identity – what does it mean to be Scottish and/or British and why does it matter? The Power of Sport – its potential as a positive, unifying force, as well as a dividing and disruptive force; Environmental Impact/Sustainability – how do we balance our desires to live modern lives and be creative, while also attempting to protect and live in balance with the natural world?

The winners were presented with a Scotland team football shirt signed by manager, Craig Levein, and will now see their designs realised. Each of the shortlisted designers was presented with a special certificate by Forest Pitch artist, Craig Coulthard.

Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison said: “Forest Pitch shows the power of sport in bringing people together. The football strips these young people have designed are going to be worn by people that we have welcomed to come and live here in Scotland. This fantastic competition has helped young people think about some of these issues which are so critical in the 21st century. With 2,000 entries coming in from the length and breadth of Scotland, it is clear that this competition has been a great way of engaging our young people in the Forest Pitch project and the ideas that it represents.

“As we embark on the Year of Creative Scotland 2012 it is a brilliant example of the way to showcase and promote Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths on a world stage. It is also a brilliant example of the way that learning in our schools is changing through Curriculum for Excellence as we look to challenge our young people to think differently and to be the confident, successful, and responsible people that they can be.”

“We want to congratulate all the shortlisted designers each of whom has created a fascinating response to the brief,” says Craig Coulthard. “It was incredibly difficult to select the winners, but we were all struck by the originality and imagination shown by each of the winners, and we were happy to have four designs with different artistic approaches. Importantly, these designs also worked well as a group, providing an effective contrast with one another, which is vital in a football match."

Forest Pitch is one of twelve Artists taking the lead commissions and will form part of the London 2012 Festival, the climax to the four-year Cultural Olympiad. Commissioned with Arts Lottery money ring-fenced for cultural projects that complement the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, Artists taking the lead commissions are place-specific events that will engage communities and celebrate the spirit of the Olympics.

Andrew Dixon, CEO of Creative Scotland, said: ‘Forest Pitch has caught the imagination of thousands of young people across Scotland who share Craig’s inspirational vision for the project. Scotland will share in the excitement and spectacle of this year’s Olympics through projects such as Forest Pitch, part of the London 2012 Festival, and the Year of Creative Scotland, a programme that shows Scotland’s creativity at its best: contemporary, international and reflecting the joy that a vibrant cultural life brings to our communities.’

Robert Craig OBE, Chair of the Scottish Football Association Museum Trust, added: “The Scottish Football Association Museum is delighted to be showcasing the shortlisted designs in this special exhibition and to welcome so many of the young designers to the museum today.”

The Forest Pitch Strip Design Exhibition runs in the gallery at the Scottish Football Museum until 15 July 2012. Open. Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm and Sunday 11am - 5pm (subject to events) Entry free. Entry to the Scottish Football Museum and the Hampden Experience are paid.

For further information on Forest Pitch visit forestpitch.org.

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