Maidstone Young Artist Award 2022
Thu 1st Oct 2020 to Tue 25th Jan 2022 - All Day
We are now pleased to be able to offer assistance towards the cost of entry fee and/or materials from The Arts Society Mid Kent. If you would like to apply for this funding, please complete the form below and return to the email or address stated on there. Deadline for funding applications is 17 January 2022.
This exciting bi-annual award is open to all young artists, up to 25 years old, living in the South East of England.
(Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we have rescheduled the Maidstone Young Artist Award to Spring 2022 to ensure everyone has the chance to enjoy the effort that has gone into your artworks. As a result, the deadline for entries to this competition has been put back to 21 January 2022. With the postponement of the 2021 award entries from artists aged 26 on 1 Jan 2022 will be accepted on this occasion)
Our aim is to give young artists the chance to win the prestigious Maidstone Young Artist Award and a platform to exhibit and sell their artworks within the County Town’s museum, in the temporary exhibition galleries.
The theme for the competition is ‘Spirit of Kent’. This can be interpreted in any way that you wish, but please note that we cannot accept any photography or digital media.
Follow us on Instagram @Maidstoneyaa and look for inspiration at #MYAASpiritOfKent and add your own ideas. Spread the word!
Prizes
20-25 years old:
1st Prize £250
Runner up £100
Under 20 years old:
1st Prize £250
Runner up £100
The Visitors’ Vote
Visitors to the exhibition are given the chance to vote for their favourite artwork. The piece with the most votes wins ‘The Visitors’ Vote’.
The winning artist will have the opportunity to exhibit their artworks in the westspace at the museum during 2022/23.
2019 Award Winners
Winner: ‘Flame Lily’ by Rosie Watson Runner-Up: ‘A Journey’ by Ellie Ross-Wilkinson
2019 Visitors’ Vote Winners
‘Something beginning’ by Lilly Wills ‘Forever Friends’ by Grace Mankelow
Why take part?
As well as a significant cash prize, the competition is a unique opportunity in Kent to exhibit and sell work within the County Town’s Museum exhibition galleries. The winner of the 20-25 years category will also be invited to sit on the judging panel for the 2024 Awards.
The Maidstone Young Artist Award is supported by Maidstone Museums’ Foundation
How do I enter?
The competition is open to artists who are under 25 years of age on 1 January 2022. The cost of entry is £10 per artwork. Artists are welcome to submit up to three works for consideration for inclusion in the exhibition.
Download an entry form from the bottom of this page.
You will need to accompany your entry with a full colour image (Jpeg or Tiff), a 100 word description of the artwork, with an explanation of how your work represents the ‘Spirit of Kent’ and payment (see below). An acknowledgement of all submissions will be sent via email.
The selection panel will meet in February 2022 to draw up a shortlist of artworks for display in the exhibition and the team of judges will select and announce the winners at a special preview evening.