As part of the Leeds 400 celebrations, we are pleased to announce the return of our art competition. There are two categories in this competition, one for under 16s and one for people aged 16 and over.
Our panel of judges will select the top six entries from each category to go on display in a pop up exhibition at Leeds Corn Exchange, commencing on the 400th anniversary date of Leeds receiving its charter (Monday 13 July). The twelve winners will also each receive a £50 cash prize.
Under 16s Category – How would you like Leeds to be in 400 years?
The theme for the under-16s category is ‘How would you like Leeds to be in 400 years?’
What would your dream city look like? What technology might we have in the future? What will plants and animals look like? What will people be doing for fun? What transport will people use?
We are looking for children’s artwork that respond to the questions above. We welcome entries from anyone aged 0-15.
16s and Over Category – Prospects of Leeds
The theme for the 16s and over category is ‘Prospects of Leeds’. A ‘prospect’ is a view of a landscape, usually taken from an elevated viewpoint. Here are some historical prospects from the Thorseby Society that you might take inspiration from:
Your prospect of Leeds can be of any area you like, so long as it has a Leeds postcode – it doesn’t have to be the City Centre! While the prospects above are there to serve as inspiration, it is not necessary for your artwork to replicate any of the styles above. We will accept any prospect of Leeds from the most traditional to the most avant-garde!
Click here to read more about historical prospects of Leeds.
Thank you to the Thoresby Society for providing the images above.
Supporting event – Leeds Central Library Collection Viewing & Sketch Club
Come to our event at Leeds Central Library to view their collection of prospects of Leeds and hear from the librarians about the prospects.
After visiting the library, we will be hosting a special edition of Clifford Stead’s (@biroguy) popular sketch club to create your prospect! We will be sketching from the top of the Broadgate building on the Headrow, where you can view Leeds from many angles and create your prospect.
Tuesday 5 May 17:30-20:30. Book your ticket here.
In Memory of Janet Douglas
This category is inspired by the late Janet Douglas. Janet Douglas was a prominent member of Leeds Civic Trust and volunteered on our Heritage and Culture Panel, who deliberate over future blue plaques. Janet was an academic and historian who led lively historical talks. She is greatly missed by us all. After her death, Janet’s daughter donated a beautiful prospect of Leeds from Janet’s collection to Leeds Civic Trust, which inspired this category in our Leeds 400 Art Competition.
Rules for Entry for Both Categories:
Please take care in reading this whole section to understand how to enter the competition.
We can only accept entries to the competition sent in via an email attachment. We strongly recommend sending in a scan of your artwork.
Your artwork can take any form, so long as it can be scanned or sent in a digital file. We can also accept digitally created graphic design. We cannot accept physical pieces of art for consideration.
How to Scan
If you do not have a scanner or do not know how to scan, please don’t worry!
Scans are taken by placing your artwork on a glass screen in a scanner. The scanner creates a copy of the artwork and converts it to a digital file. This is similar to creating a photocopy, but instead of creating more paper copies of your original document, scanning creates a digital file of your document. If you do not have a scanner or do not know how to scan, please don’t worry! This should not be a barrier to you entering the competition. Please take your artwork along to your local library, and the librarians will be more than happy to assist you in creating a scan of your artwork to send in.
Click here to find your local library
Winners & Exhibition
The deadline for entries is Sunday 31 May. We cannot consider artwork submitted after this date.
The judges will select six winners from each category. The twelve winning entries will be exhibited at a pop up exhibition at Leeds Corn Exchange from Monday 13 July to Friday 17 July. The twelve winners will be invited to an awards ceremony on Thursday 16 July in the evening, when the Corn Exchange is open late, to accept their £50 cash prize.
We hope to showcase all entries to the competition, not just the twelve winning entries, on our website and social media platforms.
The judges for the Leeds 400 Art Competition are:
- Hannah Beard – Senior Landscape Architect at Urban Wilderness, Leeds Civic Trust Trustee
- Jane Bhoyroo – Principal Keeper at Leeds Art Gallery
- Georgina Maud – Arts & Development at Rushbond PLC, Leeds Civic Trust corporate member
- Clifford Stead – Artist, local historian and tour guide, Leeds Civic Trust Trustee
- Jodie Stott – Engagement Manager at Leeds Civic Trust
- Sienna – Children’s Mayor of Leeds (Under 16s category judge only)
Timeline
- Competition launch – Tuesday 31 March
- Supporting event: 16s and Over Category: Tuesday 5 May
- Deadline for entries – Sunday 31 May
- Week of judging – w/c 8 June
- Exhibition at Leeds Corn Exchange – Monday 13 – Friday 17 July
- Awards Ceremony – Thursday 16 July
Terms & Conditions
By entering the competition, you give us permission to reproduce your artwork online, in our publications and in merchandise to promote the work of Leeds Civic Trust. Please be aware that we may reproduce your name on our promotional materials as the artist behind your artwork. If you do not want your name published alongside your artwork, please use a pseudonym.
How to Enter
Please email your scanned image and a 1-4 sentence description of what you have captured in your artwork to office@leedscivictrust.org.uk with the subject ‘Art Competition Entry – (your name), (Under 16s / Over 16s)’ to be considered. You will hear back from us about whether your artwork has been shortlisted for the exhibition in mid-late June.
Entry checklist
- Is the email subject ‘Art Competition Entry – (your name) (Under 16s / Over 16s)’?
- Have you attached a scan of your artwork?
- Have you included 1-4 sentences explaining what your artwork shows?
If you have any questions, please email office@leedscivictrust.org.uk or call 0113 243 9594.
