2023-24 UPDATE: A THRIVING YOUNG ARTS PROGRAMME
Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) Star Students
This Arts Society and RBA Star Students Competition was back online from 2023. Although we were not able to sponsor a candidate, members will be interested to know that the East Suffolk society were successful recently with an entry from One Sixth Form College in Ipswich.
Arts Society A level Art Competition
This is an online competition open to artworks created by Year 13 or equivalent art, photography and graphic design students from all types of schools and sixth form colleges who may enter a maximum of 2 artworks per student. Judged by an Arts Society panel, the winner will receive £500 and the runner-up £250.
After contact with, and visits to, Thurston Community College Sixth Form, County High School - formerly County Upper, St Benedict’s Catholic School and Culford School, to select work, four artworks were submitted from:
Thurston Community College - a cut paper installation and a photographic collage.
St Benedict’s Catholic School - two paintings: a still life and a portrait.
Culford School - a sculpture, a painting and textile work.
Grant Support for School Projects.
There are two grant support projects running at the moment:
Thurston Community College Sixth Form are seeking help for a new screen printing venture. This is at the costing stage with further information required as some items may be out of scope.
St Benedict’s Catholic School have asked for support to purchase additional easels for its drawing classes. Suggested types of easels with costing have been received. Further information is required before going forward.
We are hopeful that both these projects should gain approval isoon.
Community Grant
We have successfully applied for a grant from the Arts Society Community Fund. These are available on a case-by-case basis with a limit of £250. Our £250 will fund the purchase of materials for life drawing classes for local schools being hosted by Culford School in March 2024. Schools have now been invited to get in touch to express their interest.
Funds and Funding
Thank you to the enthusiastic committee members who have raised funds for Young Arts through stewarding, sponsored swim and more and to you all for supporting the September lecture. A very special mention and thank you to the Duchess of Grafton and the Euston Estate.
REFLECTION OF THREE YEARS IN OUR YOUNG ARTS PROGRAMME
With our Young Arts programme, we aim to bring more equality of opportunity for young people to expand their horizons by supporting participation in creative arts projects, events and training. We endeavour to support a broad age range and demography.
In 2022, as we recovered from the restrictions of COVID, we 'clubbed' together with the KEGS Foundation Trust to support the creation of the Ceramics Club at Abbeygate Sixth Form College. The following article and photo was sent to the Bury Free Press. We are delighted with the outcome of this partnership
"The KEGS Foundation Trust which supports current and previous students of King Edwards School with grants for arts, social and sporting activities and the Arts Society of West Suffolk whose Young Arts grants enable art enrichment activities, have jointly funded two potter's wheels at Abbeygate Sixth Form College allowing the formation of a ‘Ceramics Club’. Pictured here are Jacqueline Livens from the Arts Society, Jeremy Barrett a Foundation Trustee, Kate Brown Head of Faculty, David Gartland, the College Principal and Alan Jary the Comptroller of the Foundation Trust. David, who had invited the team to visit and see some of the work being produced, said, of this grant, " we are incredibly grateful to the society and the foundation for the pottery wheels which enable our students to develop and refine their ceramics skills beyond the requirements of the curriculum”.
RBA Rising Stars
Each year, we champion an aspiring young artists for selection as one of the twenty Arts Society Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) Scholars. We help with selection of a work, by an A-level student, to be put forward for selection and support the candidate through the process. It might be a painting, a ceramic or sculpture. The finalists are selected for exhibition, in London, for their exceptional works which combine the highest levels of skill, expression and draughtsmanship. Competition is intense.
Our last success was entered by Culford School in 2018 with an extruded, reflective, ceramic sculpture by Juod Habib-Allah. Covid restricted this activity in 2020 and there was only one entry from County Upper School entitles “Violet” in Pencil by Cerys Brown.
We hope to do more in this area soon.
Awards History
In 2019-20, we made a major award to West Suffolk College Production and Performing Arts Enrichment Programme. The grant ensured that all students could attend the full range of enrichment activities where a financial contribution was required. We also provided individual support to Rory Hancock for Voice Coaching.
In 2020-21, we made four awards to:
- West Suffolk College enabling the provision of two Industry Professional Workshops over Zoom.
- St Benedict’s School as a contribution to the Arts Department
- Thurston College as contribution to the purchase of a camera for a talented student
- County Upper School
In 2021-22, we have made two awards so far both to St Benedicts to support professional workshops in the Arts Department.