Young People’s Art Competition 2024 We are delighted to be partnering Swan’s Trust in organising an Art Competition for local primary schools in 2024. Six schools will be participating in the Competition, which will culminate in an exhibition in the Garden Room at the Gold Hill Museum in Shaftesbury. The schools are: St Andrews - Fontmell Magna, Motcombe, William Barnes - Sturminster Newton, St Gregory’s - Marnhull, Hindon, and Shaftesbury Primary
School staff will decide on the best 2 pieces from KS1 and the best 2 from KS2. Cygnet Gallery artists will then be asked to decide on the overall best pieces from each Key Stage. The schools have been asked to judge pieces of art based on two criteria - creativity/originality and technical ability.
There is no set theme for pieces of art work. It was agreed with the schools that it would be better and more flexible if work is ‘naturally occurring’, ie, generated through the delivery of the curriculum.
Work must be 2D, but generated through any suitable medium, eg painting, drawing, photography, collage, textiles etc. and to a maximum size of A3. Work from participating schools will be mounted and framed, ready for exhibition, free of charge. Swan’s Trust, Shaftesbury, have kindly agreed to fund these costs.
Photographs will then be placed on the Cygnet web site for all Cygnet Artists to access and vote for the best piece of work from Key Stage 1 and 2.
The Competition Exhibition will take place from Sunday 28th July, until Saturday 10 August, in the Garden Room at Gold Hill Museum, Shaftesbury. There will be a first day reception event on that day, starting at 4.00 pm, to which the families of children who’s work is exhibited, key school staff, Cygnet Artists and Gold Hill Museum staff will be invited. The Mayor of Shaftesbury will open the exhibition at the reception.
The exhibition is included as an official Shaftesbury Fringe event, and Cygnet Artists will be delivering demonstrations/workshops of their Art and Craft skills between 10.30 and 4.00 on Sunday 28 July.
Prizes will be given to each exhibiting child (an online art supplier gift voucher) and the overall KS1 and KS2 winners will receive a beautiful trophy, specially made in wood by Cygnet Gallery Artist Jason Fermor. In addition, all school winners will receive a Winner’s certificate, and every participating child will also receive a certificate of participation.
We see the Young People’s Art Competition as an important component in developing links with schools and young people, and encouraging creativity and a wider appreciation of Art and Design.