ART

What stays with us when a moment has passed or a familiar place is far away? A voice, a shared ritual, a small act of kindness or a remembered melody can continue to offer comfort long after the experience itself.

The Warmth We Carry invites artists to explore how experiences of care, connection and belonging become part of us—and how we carry them into new places, relationships and ways of seeing. What gives this warmth its lasting presence? How might we share it with someone else?

Your work might begin with a person, an everyday object, a sound, a tradition or an imagined place. It may consider warmth as something remembered, inherited, discovered or created. We welcome thoughtful responses that explore its absence or fragility as well as its presence.

The theme is open to personal, symbolic and abstract interpretations. Warmth does not need to be represented literally, and Christmas imagery is not required. Use colour, texture, composition or photographic observation to develop your own response, accompanied by a concept description of up to 100 words. There is no single right interpretation; we are interested in your idea and how you express it.

Include a short concept description of up to 100 words per artwork, explaining what inspired it and how it responds to “The Warmth We Carry”. The connection does not need to be immediately visible; your words can help the viewer discover it.

There is no single right interpretation. We are interested in your perspective and the idea behind your work. Descriptions must be in English. Translation help, including AI translation, is allowed provided it preserves the artist’s own ideas. This does not permit AI-generated artwork. Simple language is welcome, and writing ability is not assessed. Younger artists may receive help expressing their own ideas.

Provide the title, year, medium and dimensions of each artwork, together with a clear photograph or scan. For photography, upload the photograph itself and give its dimensions in pixels. Upload JPG or PNG images, at least 2,000 pixels on the longest side and no larger than 10 MB per image.

For physical artworks, photograph the whole work straight on in good light, avoiding reflections, shadows and surrounding objects. An additional detail image is optional. For photography entries, cropping and basic non-generative adjustments to exposure, colour and contrast are allowed. Do not use generative AI to create, add, replace or remove image content. Images of physical artworks must accurately represent the original. This stage of the competition is online only: no shipping or framing is required. Do not send original artworks with your online entry.

Name your files: use Category_ArtworkTitle_1.jpg for your first work and Category_ArtworkTitle_2.jpg for your second (or use .png). Replace Category with Junior, Youth or Adult, matching your application; for example, Junior_QuietLight_1.jpg. For an optional detail image, add _detail before the extension. Do not include your name, school, date of birth or contact details in filenames, images or concept descriptions. The organisers will use your application details to match the work to your entry.

Artworks will be assessed within their age categories, taking the artist’s age into account.

The jury will consider the artwork together with its short concept description. Judging focuses on the artist’s personal interpretation of “The Warmth We Carry”. Technical skill, realism and professional finish are not separate scoring criteria.

Interpretation of the theme — up to 20 points: the thought and meaning behind the artist’s response, including personal, symbolic or unexpected connections.
Originality and imagination — up to 10 points: an individual perspective and imaginative approach to the idea.
Expression of the idea — up to 10 points: how the artist’s visual choices communicate the concept, considered alongside the description.

Each jury member awards up to 40 points per artwork. All three criteria are applied in relation to the artist’s age. A simple visual response can be as successful as an elaborate one. Writing quality and language fluency are not assessed; the description helps explain the artist’s own idea.

The final score is the average total awarded by the judging jury members. Jury members will not judge their own students, relatives or entries where they have a personal conflict of interest. Each participant may receive a maximum of one category placing, based on their highest-scoring artwork. The Grand Prix is additional to a category award. The jury’s decision is final.

Artists retain copyright in their work. Entry permission will cover display of submitted artwork in the competition gallery, results announcements, official social media and competition promotional materials, with artist credit. Catalogue permission will be arranged with exhibiting artists.

Public credits will use the artist’s chosen display name, age category, country and artwork title. Contact details and full dates of birth will not be published. Permission does not include selling the artwork or using it on merchandise; these would require a separate agreement.

Original photographs taken by you on a smartphone or digital camera are welcome. Cropping and basic non-generative adjustments to exposure, colour and contrast are allowed. Artwork created wholly or partly with generative AI is not eligible. Do not use generative AI to create, add, replace or remove image content.

Parents and teachers may offer general guidance, but must not make or correct any part of the artwork. Younger artists may receive help putting their own ideas into words. A parent or legal guardian must submit an under-18 entry; teachers and studios may help coordinate with their permission.

You may enter a maximum of two artworks for this competition. If entering two, submit them together in one application. You cannot add artworks after submitting or enter additional works through another application.

No. Entry fees are non-refundable.

Yes. Artwork previously exhibited, published or entered in another competition is welcome, provided it is your own original work, responds to “The Warmth We Carry” and meets the competition rules.

Yes, submit your description in English. You may use translation help, including AI translation, provided the description preserves your own ideas. Writing quality and English fluency are not assessed. The ban on AI-generated artwork still applies.

No. Every eligible participant receives a digital participation certificate, but only selected artists will be featured in the online gallery and on official social media. This selection is separate from the exhibition invitations awarded to first-place winners.

Every eligible participant will receive a digital participation certificate. Individual scores and personal feedback are not guaranteed.

No. This stage is online only: submit images through the application form. No shipping or framing is required. For the final exhibition in September 2027, artists are responsible for delivery and return shipping costs. Insurance requirements and any framing or printing costs will be confirmed before artists accept their invitations.

No. First-place winners in each age category will be invited to exhibit one winning artwork in England in September 2027, with the exhibition participation fee waived. The waiver covers only the exhibition participation fee. Other artworks may also be invited at the organisers’ discretion. Attendance is optional. Artists cover delivery and return shipping. Insurance requirements and any framing or printing costs will be confirmed before artists accept their invitations. Travel and accommodation are not included. The venue, exact dates, and display, delivery and collection arrangements will be provided before artists accept their invitations.