Young Art Kent

Every 2 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with 1 of 2000 types of cancer. 

Lifesaving research done by Cancer Research is aiming to make the target that "3 in 4 people will beat their diagnosis in the next 16 years" a reality, but they can’t do it without your help! Young Art Kent is a Cancer Research project, giving children the opportunity to show and develop their artistic talents, be in a public exhibition at Kent University, and get to meet locally famous Kent artists; while raising vital funds for Cancer Research UK. 

Young Art is hugely successful in Cornwall and London. In 2018 alone, £83,000 was raised by London Young Art for research into childhood cancers at UCL, Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital. Fundraising is vital to help fund research into the causes, prevention and treatment of cancer and importantly, to support and work with the NHS. Some of the most recent research breakthroughs have been developing a breath test to detect cancer; discovering better treatments for children with brain tumours; improving cancer surgery technology and improving cervical cancer screening. Thanks to fundraising activities like this, Cancer Research UK can continue to do lifesaving work. 

The Benefits of Art

Being creative, learning to express yourself, to understand and observe the world around us and what it means, are key skills that are developed through art. It can test and develop vital problem solving and analytical skills when trying to create three-dimensional scenes and strengthen their understanding of scales and depths. For young children, art and holding brushes, crayons and pencils, also develops essential motor skills and the rewards of perseverance and focusing! 

Get Involved

It’s easy to get involved in Young Art Kent’s latest competition. The theme to enter is ‘Something You Love’, and selected entries will be displayed at the Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury, on 17th-19th May 2019. The competition is open to primary school and year 7 children from all over Kent to enter their artwork into the Young Art competition.

All the children’s artwork will be judged by a panel of local artists with the winning 3 entries in 2 age categories receiving a special prize.

The children and their families will be invited to a launch night on Friday 17th May where they will proudly see their work displayed and selected artworks will be entered into a silent auction with winners announced on Sunday 19th May.

Children can enter their artwork about ‘Something You Love’ for a small donation of £2. Family members can then buy the work for a minimum donation of £3 to help raise money for a worthy cause. 

If you are a primary school teacher or teach Year 7 students, you can help spread the word and get your class involved. Perhaps you could put up a poster or talk about the competition in a lesson. You may even be able to make time to give your pupils the opportunity to enter the competition- maybe during a lunchtime, after-school club or just a homework activity.

To enter simply complete the registration form but make sure you read the competition rules before creating your masterpiece! Entries close on the 1st May 2019. You can also find out more by emailing the Young Art Kent team at youngartkent@gmail.com.

To help your children create an artistic masterpiece here are 3 places in Kent that will help you get creative and inspire a love of art.