Bournemouth & Poole College launched the 9th annual Dorset Art Prize, with the support of the Dorset Community Foundation. With prizes on offer totalling £6,750, the competition is a great opportunity for Dorset artists to share their talents.

A free to enter competition, the Dorset Art Prize has a range of categories – Students from Year 10 to 13 and over 19s could win up to £1000 in prize money, while schools could benefit from up to £500 for their submissions.

The theme for this year’s Dorset Art Prize is ‘Messages’. Entrants are encouraged to interpret and explore this in broad and figurative ways, as well as more literal considerations on the theme. All shortlisted artwork will be showcased on display for the public to see.

The deadline for entries is 15th July 2022. An esteemed panel of judges will then decide on the winners before they’re announced at the final in November.

The awards on offer total £6,750 and include:

• Primary School Prize*
  1st Prize: £500     2nd Prize: £250

• Secondary School Prize*
  1st Prize: £500    2nd Prize: £250

• Year 10 and 11 Prize
  1st Prize: £1000    2nd Prize: £500    3rd Prize: £250

• Year 12 and 13 Prize
  1st Prize: £1000    2nd Prize: £500    3rd Prize: £250

• Over 19 Prize
  1st Prize: £1000    2nd Prize: £500    3rd Prize: £250

Phil Sayles, Principal of Bournemouth & Poole College, said: “We are proud to encourage and support the arts in the local area and love to engage with Dorset’s thriving artistic community. The Dorset Art Prize is the leading competition in the area and I look forward to seeing the fantastic entries this year. Based on what I’ve seen in previous years, I’m sure I’ll be stunned at the level of artistic talent that surrounds us and I can’t wait to see the judge’s choices.”

The Dorset Art Prize, established in 2014, aims to actively engage with all aspects of the community through encouraging and helping to create a broader, more inclusive vision for the arts locally. Candidates from across Dorset can visit The College’s website to make a submission.

For more information, please visit thecollege.co.uk/dorset-art-prize