Anica Costa has taken out the fourth annual People's Choice Award for the National Wool Museum's fabARTS 2008: VCE Art & Design exhibition.

The Award was presented by City of Greater Geelong Cr Peter McMullin at a function attended by 100 guests held at the National Wool Museum last night.

Anica was a student at St Ignatius College last year when she completed her Untitled Interpretation as part of her VCE Studio Art subject. This year Anica is studying nursing at Deakin University but continues her artistic work in her spare time.

Anica's winning piece is an installation comprised of two calico figures sitting on chairs with a compartmentalised table in-between.

"My inspiration for my installation came from my own relationships with friends and family, but I also took inspiration from Australian artist Howard Arkley," she said.

"I wanted the piece to have a cohesive feel about it. I wanted people to feel what I feel. I created the work using a number of different mediums, material and techniques including sewing, screen-printing and woodwork," said Anica.

Hundreds of votes were received over the past few weeks during fabARTS and the result was very close. The Runner Up was Ross Del Gallo from St Joseph's College for his landscape design depicting a modern home's front entrance. The Highly Commended award went to Elise Renzenbrink, former student of Christian College, for her work titled "God's Creation".

Cr McMullin congratulated the winners and thanked the Principals and teachers from City of Greater Geelong schools for supporting the exhibition.

"fabARTS provides a very valuable development opportunity for fledgling artists to have their work professionally exhibited in a Gallery and Museum that attracts not only local visitors, but those from interstate and overseas as well", he said.

"Also, whilst we have the Top Arts exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria and the Top Design exhibition at the Melbourne Museum, the fabARTS exhibition is unique in that it is specifically for City of Greater Geelong students.

"By working with both exhibiting schools and those coming to see fabARTS 2008, the National Wool Museum continues to develop its relationships with educational institutions in the City of Greater Geelong," said Cr McMullin.

fabARTS 2008 is on show at the National Wool Museum, 26 Moorabool Street, until 6 April.