Search is on for Liverpool City Region's best young artists

A search for the best young artists in and around Liverpool is reaching the final stages – and art-lovers can have their say by voting online.

dot-art Schools and Edge Hill University are inviting the public to pick their favourite artwork as part of an annual competition to find the cream of Liverpool City Region’s artistic talent.

Entries have been created by young artists in Year 5 and Year 9 from over 90 schools.

A judging panel of respected arts professionals have shortlisted three entries from each school. The panel includes James Murphy, the first dot-art Schools overall winner in 2013 and now Director of Event Horizon video production.

He joins renowned sculptor Faith Bebbington, Alice Demba, who leads the learning team at National Museums Liverpool, Louise Hesketh the Programmes Manager for Networks & Partnerships at Curious Minds and Professor Matthew Pateman, the Head of the Department of English & Creative Arts at Edge Hill University.

The shortlisted artworks can be viewed and voted on here from 25 March – 22 April.

The entry with the most votes from each school will be displayed at the 12th annual dot-art Schools exhibition, which is being held at The Walker Art Gallery from 5 June to 7 July 2024. 

Credit: dot-art Schools — Credit: dot-art

Alice Demba, Schools, Young People and Adults Lead at National Museums Liverpool, said:

“It’s been an absolute joy to see the incredible artistic talent of students here in Liverpool. We’re so looking forward to celebrating their hard work and creativity by displaying the winning artworks at the Walker. We also hope that the students might be inspired by some of the world-renowned paintings on our walls – they’re certainly in good company here!”

Carolyn Murray, dot-art Schools Project Manager said:

“The dot-art Schools annual competition encourages children to explore their creativity and increases their self-esteem by celebrating their art, as well as giving them a chance to express their thoughts and feelings. We want the public to get involved and vote online as you really could make a young artist’s dreams come true.”

As a national leader in high-quality teacher training Edge Hill University provides dot-art Schools with greater access to schools in the region and supports it in its key aims of promoting creativity and good mental health.

Dr Helen O’Keeffe, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Education said:

“Our fantastic partnership with dot-art has helped promote our values of embracing the arts, getting creative and looking after children’s mental health in schools across the region,;all things that are key to our curriculum here at the University.

“I’d encourage everyone to spend some time looking at the incredible artwork on the dot-art Schools website and vote for their favourite shortlisted piece.”