TEHRAN Six students of the "Innovative Mind" Painting Institute in Tabriz won prizes of a biennial international painting contest in Japan.

The manager of the institute, Leila Saviz, told IRNA that the winners were Mahdi Shakib 11, Yassaman Sarabipour 8, Somayyeh Alizadeh 14, Yassaman Ashouri 5, Mohammad-Javad Sanandajian 13, and Tannaz Shoja'osadat 5.

Saviz added that some 42,000 paintings from 114 countries took part in the contest.

She said that the selected paintings will be put on display in different cities in Japan for one month.

The "Innovative Mind" Institute is the only painting institute for children and young people in the 5 to 14 age group in the city of Tabriz.

The students at the institute have so far won 24 international medals and honorary diplomas.