Student Art Exhibitions
To date, two competitions have been run, in Rotherham and Stoke, and the standard of work from the young artists has been truly staggering.
What is the project aim?
To provide an opportunity and platform for secondary schools to exhibit the very best of their students’ visual arts work.
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What are the achievements?The exhibition of competition entries is open to the local public, and pupils, teachers and parents are all invited to the prize-giving event, where they are met and congratulated by local dignitaries. At our most recent exhibition in the Potteries Art Gallery & Museum, Stoke-on-Trent (UK), the judges and guests were so impressed that the students ’ art work is now also going on the walls of the Creative Partnerships offices, the Mayor’s office and the Local Authority offices. |
Who benefited?
Students were encouraged to enter from Rotherham schools (in the UK). Prizes were awarded in age categories to give everyone the chance to display their artistic talents. Students winning a prize received vouchers for arts materials for their school. Six schools took part in the competition with close to 200 students getting involved.
The art competition was then expanded, with schools from Stoke, UK, taking part, again with a fantastic response: 17 schools took part in the competition with over 150 entries.
Both the competitions in Rotherham and in Stoke brought together a range of people from across the local community, including students, teachers, principals, art advisors, Creative Partnerships and Balfour Beatty Capital staff.
Longer term benefits?
The art competitions are planned to run every two years, further developing in each schools project as it becomes operational (the long term relationship between the schools in Stoke, Rotherham and Balfour Beatty Capital.)
As the competitions become embedded in the schools’ activities calendar, we will have a regular opportunity to celebrate the partnership with each local school board, build a reputation for the competition amongst the staff and students and ensure the partnership is active and positive in ways which transcend the contractual relationship.
Future development and plans
Balfour Beatty Capital is currently organizing a trip for the winning students to visit the Balfour Beatty Capital Projects office in London to see their work on display. The tour will then move on to the Tate Art Gallery to learn about various artistic styles, followed by a flight on the London Eye to gain inspiration from the London skyline.
What did it cost and how was it funded?
The art competitions, venue, exhibition, administration and prizes are funded entirely by Balfour Beatty Capital.
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