1st prize 4-7 years
Fatoumata, Kings Oak Primary
1st Prize 7-11 years Ruby, Sheerhatch Primary
1st Prize 11-14 years, Amelia, Mark Rutherford School
Download pamphlet with all winners
AND THE WINNERS ARE…….
The Harpur Trust 2020 Virtual Art Competition Awards
Dozens of Local schools and their pupils tuned in at 6pm on Thursday 8 October to a live streamed event announcing the winners of the Harpur Trust’s 2020 Schools’ Art Competition from a ‘secret studio’ beneath the Higgins.
Prizes were announced by special guests including The Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis, the High Sheriff, Susan Lousada, and Mayor Dave. The half hour show featured virtual interviews with artists, teachers, judges and members of The Harpur Trust and included a ‘Tony Hart’ style gallery showcasing examples of work from all participating schools.
Our External Relations Manager Sarah Elam manages the project and explained “The competition usually ends with an exhibition at The Higgins Bedford but the pandemic meant we had to find a new way to give pupils the accolade they deserved so we came up with the idea of a virtual awards ceremony. We wanted the event to fully embrace and reflect the digital world we have all been living in and local film company Future Legend Media helped us to bring our idea to life in the most creative and exciting way. We also created a new competition website where all of the work submitted is now on display for the world to see”.
2020 Prize winning schools include Wixams Academy, Wootton Academy, Mark Rutherford School, Greys Education Centre, Grange Academy, Bedford Girls’ School, Castle Newnham School, Sheerhatch Primary, St James’ VA Primary, Putnoe Primary, King’s Oak Primary, Edith Cavell Primary and Renhold Primary.
Rhiannon at Grey’s academy won 1st prize in the age 14-16 year category
Rhiannon explains “My tile shows the Fabric of Bedford and is an abstract representation of hands of different colours holding each other. Our community is diverse just like all the colours and we need to be there for one another”.
Kings Oak Primary pupil Fatoumata, who won 1st prize in the 4-7 year old category and was just 4 years old when she produced her piece ‘Swans and Bridges’ said “I used sticky tape to make it then painted the water then used pencils (watercolour pencils). Then I used ‘magic’ water to make the trees and the bridge”.
Lucy age 14 from Wixams Academy won the Harpur Trust Choice Award (pictured above)
All of the work and the awards video itself can be seen at www.harpur-art-competition.org.uk and you can download a copy of the prize winners catalogue here.