Discover ARTiculation Challenge returns for 2018

Discover ARTiculation Challenge returns for 2018

The University of Leeds will once again host the final for the Discover ARTiculation Challenge 2018 on 11 July.

The Discover ARTiculation Challenge is a national competition that engages Key Stage 4 students (regardless of background or experience) with art ― with the aim of developing their confidence and ability to express their opinions, thoughts and conclusions.

The competition began in 2016, building on the success of the ARTiculation Prize for students aged 16 to 19 and an ongoing programme of Discovery Days aimed at Key Stage 4 and 5 students, led by the University of Leeds. It is organised by Arts Educational Engagement and the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, alongside partners including the Roche Court Educational Trust.

For this year’s competition, students are invited to submit (via their school) a two to three minute film of themselves speaking about a work of art, an artefact or a piece of architecture of their choice. Schools may enter up to five films each by Thursday 22 March.

Judges from the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, the Arts Educational Engagement Team and partner galleries will view each film, looking at content, structure, delivery and the speaker’s original approach and unique potential before choosing entrants to go forward to the final.

From these entries, between six to eight finalists will be invited to deliver their presentation to a live audience at the University of Leeds on 11 July 2018.

Discover ARTiculation Challenge publicityLast year’s saw 33 entries from schools across England. Six students were chosen to deliver presentations at the competition final, judged by Kate Brindley, Director of Collections and Exhibitions at Chatsworth House.

The two first prize winners hailed from Campsmount Academy (Doncaster) and St Paul’s School (London), with the other finalists coming from Harrow Way Community School (Hampshire), Shirebrook Academy (Mansfield) and Abbey Grange Academy in Leeds. See here for a news article about last year’s finalists.
Paul McGinty, Subject Leader for Art and Photography at Abbey Grange Academy, said:

“A number of our Year 9 students entered last year’s Discover ARTiculation and two went through to the final at the University of Leeds.

“Watching Tom and Ananya deliver such passionate presentations to a packed university lecture theatre at　the Discover ARTiculation final in July 2017 was a great privilege and most certainly a highlight of my teaching career.

“The skills they developed thanks to taking part in the competition really boosted their confidence ― a confidence in areas that many young people find challenging, yet sadly get little opportunity to nurture.

“The Discover ARTiculation Challenge will take students out of their comfort zone, but that’s no bad thing!

“As a school, we have also been very engaged with the national ARTiculation Prize competition for sixth form students. We have taken a group of students to one of the Discovery Days at The Hepworth Wakefield and also entered all of our Year 12 Art, Craft and Design class into this year’s ARTiculation Prize. Our internal heat winner, Lili Munoz, has progressed onto this year’s grand final, to take place at Clare College (Cambridge) in March, having recently won the regional final in Manchester.”

Winners of Discover ARTiculation 2017 with Kate Brindley and Abigail Harrison MooreAbigail Harrison Moore, Head of the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, said:

“The University of Leeds is delighted to partner again with Roche Court Educational Trust to host the Discover ARTiculation Challenge for 2018.

“Over the last two years, we have had an amazing increase in entries. As one of the judges of the films, I can confirm that the young people participating are making it harder and harder to decide who will come to the University in July to present their ideas about a work of art that inspires them to an audience.

“Last year’s final had a brilliantly diverse range of art and artists considered, from manhwa to the Guggenheim. The presenters demonstrated how wonderfully articulate, thoughtful and intelligent their responses were.

“I am really looking forward to watching this year’s films and inviting the finalists to Leeds.”