Time is running out to get your child’s creative work featured in a professional gallery exhibition this summer, with the entry deadline coming up this Sunday 28 June.
The Atkinson in Southport and The Arts Society Southport are looking for local high school and college students to enter the Sefton Young Artist of the Year 2026 competition. It is a fantastic opportunity for young people to see their hard work celebrated outside the classroom, and since every single person who enters gets their artwork featured in a public exhibition, it is a brilliant way to boost their creative confidence before the summer holidays start.
The competition is open to any young person who lives in Sefton or attends a local high school, college, or sixth form in the borough.
What can they submit?
The organisers are looking for just one piece of original work. Practically any visual medium is welcome, so they can enter whatever they enjoy making the most:
- Drawings and paintings
- Photography (digital or film)
- Textiles, embroidery, or fashion design
- Sculptures and 3D mixed-media pieces
- Original prints (as long as they aren’t commercial reproductions)
As parents, you are encouraged to help them along the way with advice, ideas, and structural support – whether that is helping them source materials or finding a quiet space at home to work. The only strict rule is that the final artwork must be entirely their own creation.
Why should they get involved?
- A Guaranteed Exhibition: Every single entry will be published in a massive online digital gallery on The Atkinson’s website starting this July.
- A Chance for Physical Gallery Display: The judging panel will choose the winning and highly commended pieces to be physically displayed inside the Discovery Box gallery at The Atkinson throughout the summer holidays.
- Prizes and a Celebration Night: Winners will receive a special prize pack courtesy of The Arts Society Southport, and you’ll get to join them as special guests for an official presentation evening at the gallery.
How to enter before the 28 June deadline
Submitting an entry is straightforward, but the cutoff is Sunday 28 June 2026.
All you need to do is download the official entry form (available as a PDF or Word document on The Atkinson’s website here), help them take a clean, well-lit digital photograph of their finished artwork, and email it over with the form.
The entry pack includes great, simple tips on how to photograph their work using a smartphone so it looks its absolute best for the judges.
Do you know a local parent or teacher whose kids would love this? Share this article and make sure they get their applications in before Sunday 28 June!