A new annual art and photography challenge is being launched for pupils with additional support needs across Lincolnshire and beyond by the county’s learning disability charity, Linkage. The Linkage ArtBeat Competition will be open to all young people primarily of secondary school age, attached to mainstream special educational units and those attending specialist schools.
If you or your organisation work with younger people, please share this message with them.
The competition is inviting artwork and photography on any theme with the aim of stimulating and celebrating their creativity, artistic skills and talents, and exhibiting their work to a wider audience. Entries can in any medium of art or photography up to A3 size (303mm x 426mm).
Entries are open until 3oth January 2015 with a top prize of £100 in each age category: under-14, under-16 and over-16. Winners will receive £100, second place entries £75 and £50 for third prize. The winners’ schools will receive a selection of arts materials so that everyone can share in the success.
The prize-winners and their families will be invited to attend an awards ceremony in February after which the winning entries will form part of a touring exhibition and be featured in a Linkage charity calendar.
The ArtBeat competition was officially launched during Linkage’s annual Work Skills Week for local school pupils on Friday 24th October.
Linkage Chief Executive Ges Roulstone says: “This is a great way of working with schools and highlighting the creative skills in art and photography of students. We’ve exciting prizes too so I hope it’s a must for hundreds of young people. I can’t wait to see the results.”
Although the competition is primarily aimed at older students, interest from primary schools is welcome.
The competition coincides with the creation of an arts enterprise by Linkage to support current and former students and clients to develop their skills. For some, it will be a chance to showcase and sell their art and craft work as an employment opportunity.
For further information, Linkage can be contacted via www.linkage.org.uk / 01522 503188