Entries sought for this year's Discover Articulation Challenge

The annual national competition for GCSE students interested in art and architecture is now open for 2023.

The Discover Articulation Challenge is organised by the School of Fine Art History of Art and Cultural Studies and Arts and Humanities Outreach Team at the University of Leeds, in partnership with the National Gallery.

Built on the success of the Articulation Prize for young people aged between 16 and 19, the Discover Articulation Challenge was created in 2016 to engage 14 to 16 year olds in art history. The competition is dedicated to engaging students with art and developing their confidence and ability to express their opinions, thoughts and conclusions.

For this year’s competition, Key Stage 4 students from any discipline are invited to submit a two to three minute film of themselves speaking about a work of art, an artefact or a piece of architecture of their choice.

Judges from the University of Leeds and partner galleries will view each film, looking at content, structure, delivery, and the speaker’s original approach and unique potential before choosing eight entrants to take part in the final.

Abigail Harrison Moore, Professor of Art History and Museum Studies in the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, said:

“I am delighted that the School continues to host the Discover Articulation Challenge in 2023.

“Having co-founded the competition for 14 to 16 year olds with the Articulation Team at the National Gallery and Chatsworth House Trust, it is exciting to welcome another group of young people to the competition. Their films astound, delight and challenge the judges every year.

“Seeing art, design and architecture translated via young people's creative encounters is a joy. We are excited to have the final back on campus this summer.”

The winner of last year’s Discover Articulation Challenge was a student from Abbey Grange school in Leeds. Paul McGinty, Art and Design Subject Lead at Abbey Grange, said of the competition:

“Discover Articulation has brought so much to our curriculum over a number of years, and it was lovely to hear two of our current students speak so well in the competition.
 
“For one of our students to win a prize was amazing and both pupils blew me away with their confidence. It was by far their best performance and I'm sure the praise they received from the adjudicators, Jane and Abigail, will really boost their confidence.
 
“I am convinced that the success of our former winning students has been born from the experiences of participating in the Discover Articulation Challenge, two of whom have subsequently gone on to win the Articulation Prize. Zach, who won the Articulation Prize in 2019, is now studying art history at university.”

The deadline for this year’s submissions is 5pm on 23 March 2023, so there is still time for students to create their videos.

Finalists will be selected to take part in the summer final which will take place on University of Leeds campus on Wednesday 14 June.

A range of resources are available for students and teachers, to inspire and help guide applicants through the process.

Find out more and request access to the application resources via the Discover Articulation webpage.

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Photo © University of Leeds.