Young Creatives Art Competition

Highlanes Gallery continues its 20^th anniversary year with a brand new initiative – an art competition and exhibition for children 18 years and under. The competition celebrates creativity and innovation and highlights the creative voices of children and young people.

Developed with the gallery’s IGNITE (12-18 yrs) and AMPLIFY (18-30 yrs) young persons’ panels, the competition focuses on themes of identity and the environment, and uniquely this competition will be adjudicated by individuals from the panels.

The legacy of the gallery founders Bea Orpen and Terry Trench, who first visioned the idea of a Collection and Municipal Art Gallery 80 years ago is reflected in this special competition and exhibition as Bea and Terry were great supporters of children and young people’s art, organising and adjudicating many competitions of art.

This new initiative has garnered critical financial and strategic support in addition to annual funding from Louth County Council and the Arts Council of Ireland, in sponsorship from dynamic businesses – McKeever Tallan Solicitors, McEvoy Craig Accountants, O’Reilly Thomas Solicitors, and Markey Minogue Coyle Solicitors – who are inspired by pioneering creativity.

1. Theme

Highlanes Gallery has been engaging children and young people since its inception 20 years ago, from programmes for toddlers, and workshops for children and young people, and in family groups, as well as hosting children’s art prizes.

This art competition and exhibition has been informed by young people’s voices, and the theme for this art competition also reflects that.

Me, my place, our world is the title of this year’s focus and we invite entries to explore themes of the self, identity and the environment, place and home, and family and community. We welcome reflections on this title and themes and through your art are excited to see how you will express this whether imaginary or real.

2. Competition Category & Prizes

We invite entries from our community across all abilities.

Category A (Under 6 Years)

General

1st: €100

2nd: €75

3rd: €50

Additional Needs

1st: €100

2nd: €75

3rd: €50

Category B (7 - 10 Years)

General

1st: €125

2nd: €100

3rd: €75

Additional Needs

1st: €125

2nd: €100

3rd: €75

Category C (11 - 14 Years)

Regular

1st: €150

2nd: €125

3rd: €100

Additional Needs

1st: €150

2nd: €125

3rd: €100

Category D (15 - 18 Years)

General

1st: €300

2nd: €175

3rd: €125

Additional Needs

1st: €300

2nd: €175

3rd: €125

There will be a number of Exceptional Talent Awards selected in each Category whose work will be selected for exhibition in the Young Creatives Art Competition (Exhibition) which will run from 8^th August – 31^st October 2026

3. Preparing Your Entry

a. Materials

Entries may use a variety of paper including white, coloured which can be smooth, rough or textured. The work that you submit may be drawn or painted in pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, crayon, markers, pastel, watercolour, gouache, acrylics, oils, poster colour and collage. Alternatively, it may be a print created from a lino block, wood block or any other method.

Stop-motion/ animated moving-image works will be accepted but they must be no longer than 15-20 seconds (including opening titles and credits). Possible techniques include (but are not limited to) Hand-drawn, Stop-motion, Computer generated animation, Coding, Cut-out and Claymation and supplied only on .mp4 or .mov format, with no AI language.

Stop-motion/ animated moving-image works will only be accepted saved onto a virus-free memory stick and supplied by post or by hand, with an accompanying hard copy, completed Application Form.

b. Size of Artwork

Physical entries must be in A3 (29.7 cm × 42.0 cm) size only, and accepted in landscape or portrait format.

Please submit your physical artwork in flat format only, it should not be rolled, folded or framed. Framed entries will not be accepted.

Stop-motion/ animated moving-image works will be accepted but they must be no longer than 15-20 seconds (includng opening titles and credits).

c. Number of Entries per Entrant

You may enter Two artworks. Only individual entries will be accepted.

Each entry requires a fully completed Application Form

d. Information Required

There is one generic Application Form for you to complete before submitting your entry to the Competition, whether completed at home or in your school or at an external art class.

There is a maximum of two entries per person, an Application Form must be completed for each work.

Your parent, guardian or teacher must sign and date the Application Form and it must be securely attached to your artwork. This requirement is in place for data protection compliance reasons.

Please note that where artwork is submitted without the relevant Application Form being fully completed, it cannot progress to the preliminary judging stage of the competition

4. Eligibility

To enter, you must be under 19 years of age on Sunday 12th July 2026 and you must be resident on the island of Ireland. Your age for entry to the Young Creatives Art Competition is as of this closing date.

5. Permission

All entrants under 18 must have the permission of a parent/guardian/teacher to enter and must confirm this on the Application Form.

6. Submission Deadline

All entries must be submitted by hand or post by the closing date, 2pm, Sunday 12^th of July . Late entries will not be accepted. This closing date is final. If your entry is received after this date, it will not be eligible for the competition. Allow plenty of time to complete and send your entry.

There are no online applications.

Please note that where artwork is submitted without the relevant application form being fully completed, it cannot progress to the preliminary judging stage of the competition.

7. Application Form

Each entrant must complete an Application Form signed by parent/guardian/teacher for each work.

This Application Form must be attached to the rear of the 2 dimensional art work, and in the case of an animation/stop motion work, be enclosed in the envelope with the memory stick containing the file.

The Application Form can be downloaded here.

8. Originality

The artwork submitted must be original and created entirely by the entrant. Any copied, traced, plagiarised or AI generated work will be disqualified.

All source imagery must be indicated at time of entry.

Failure to properly reference any source imagery may result in disqualification.

9. Depiction of People

The entrant confirms that any person depicted in the entry has granted permission to be portrayed as shown.

10. Copyright

The artwork must not feature imagery that the entrant does not own the rights to, including but not limited to Disney, Pixar, Marvel or other known characters, trademarks, brands or intellectual property.

11. Rules of Entry

(a) To enter, you must be under 19 years of age on Sunday 12th July 2026 and you must be resident on the island of Ireland. Your age for entry to the Young Creatives Art Competition is as of this closing date.
(b) You must complete an Application Form and attach it securely to each piece of artwork that you submit. Please note that where artwork is submitted without the relevant application form being fully completed, it cannot progress to the preliminary judging stage of the competition.
(c) You may enter up to two pieces of artwork. Only individual entries will be accepted. A photograph or scanned image of an original artwork will not be considered under any circumstances.
(d) Your entry should be submitted in flat format and should remain within the specified size guidelines. Framed entries will not be accepted under any circumstances.
(e) Stop-motion/ animated moving-image works will be accepted but they must be no longer than 15-20 seconds (including opening titles and credits). Possible techniques include (but are not limited to) Hand-drawn, Stop-motion, Computer generated animation, Coding, Cut-out and Claymation and supplied only on .mp4 or .mov format, with no AI language. Stop-motion/ animated moving-image works will only be accepted saved onto a virus-free memory stick and supplied by post or by hand, with an accompanying hard copy, completed Application Form.
(f) The closing date for entries to Highlanes Gallery’s Young Creatives Art Competition is Sunday 12^th July 2026 at 2pm. This date is final. If your entry is received after this date, it will not be submitted to the judges.
(g) Your entry must be certified as being original and unaided work and any source imagery must be indicated at the time of entry. The use of artificial intelligence is not permitted. If at any time, there is a challenge either to the originality of your entry or on the basis that you have not properly referenced any source imagery, Highlanes Gallery shall take reasonable steps to investigate the circumstances giving rise to the challenge. Highlanes Gallery will then make a reasonably grounded determination as to whether to uphold the challenge, and Highlanes Gallery’s decision on this matter will be final. You may be required to forfeit your award and repay any prize money you receive if the investigation reveals that your entry is not original or properly referenced
(h) If your entry reaches the final judging stage and is being considered for an award, you may be asked to submit your birth certificate and further examples of your work.
(i) The Judging Panel is responsible for the allocation of awards and the decision of the Chairperson of the Judging Panel is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding that decision.
(j) All entries shall be the property of Highlanes Gallery, who shall also be the owner of the copyright. Highlanes Gallery will not accept liability for loss or damage to any work submitted.
(k) Winning entries together with the entrant’s details (name, age, school or town) may be used in publicity campaigns (such as adverts, calendars, cards, posters and other point of sale materials) after the Young Creatives Art Competition and in future Competitions. Photographs of the winners together with their names and ages may be used in publicity campaigns where the parents or guardians of the winners have given their consent.
(l) The rules of the Competition may not be changed or modified and will strictly be applied.
(m) All personal information supplied will be used by Highlanes Gallery according to the gallery’s Young Creatives Art Competition Privacy Policy which may be viewed here.

12. Sending your Entry

Please Post or Hand Deliver your completed entry to:

Young Creatives Art Competition

Highlanes Gallery

36 Laurence Street,

Drogheda,

Co. Louth

A92 F7PH

(Gallery access hours: Tuesday to Saturday 10.30am – 5pm)

13. Prize Fund

A prize fund of more than €3,000 will be awarded across the different categories. Winners will receive their prize award via EFT to a nominated bank account, and this can be their own personal Bank Account or a nominated Parent/Guardian.

14. Judging Process

Only prize winners and Exceptional Talent awardees will be contacted.

All entrants whose work is not (including memory sticks) can be collected during gallery hours from Tuesday to Saturday from Tuesday 18th to Saturday 29th August 2026. Any uncollected work after this date will be recycled.

The Judging Panel is responsible for the allocation of awards and the decision of the Chairperson of the Judging Panel is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding that decision.

15. Competition Exhibition

This exhibition will run from Saturday 8^th August until Saturday 31^st October 2026, with access hours from 10.30am-5pm, daily – Tuesday to Saturday.

Highlanes Gallery has been in operation for almost 20 years and this competition will be expressed as an exhibition for competition winners and entries identified as Exceptional Talent Award.

16. Prize Giving Ceremony

Prize winners and entrants of Exceptional Talent will be contacted by post on or before Thursday 20^th July, and are invited to the ceremony to view their work.

This will take place on Friday 7^th August at 11am at the gallery.

17. Returning Your Artwork

Unselected work including memory sticks can be collected during gallery hours from Tuesday to Saturday from Tuesday 18^th to Saturday 29^th August 2026.

Selected work is automatically included in the exhibition and can be collected during gallery hours from Tuesday to from Tuesday 10^th to Saturday 21^st November 2026.

Access hours to the gallery are Tuesday – Saturday 10.30am – 5pm.

Any uncollected work after these dates will be recycled.

18. GDPR

All personal information supplied will be used by Highlanes Gallery according to the gallery’s Young Creatives Art Competition Privacy Policy which may be viewed here.

19. Enquires

Please email youngcreativesartcompetition@highlanes.ie for all queries relating to the art competition.
The email response will be only during office hours and within 48 hours.

20. Sponsors

This new initiative of this highly regarded gallery has garnered important financial and strategic support in sponsorship from dynamic businesses –

McKeever Tallan Solicitors, McEvoy Craig Accountants, O’Reilly Thomas Solicitors, and Markey Minogue Coyle Solicitors – who are inspired by pioneering creativity and supporting Highlanes Gallery in this exciting venture.

Highlanes Gallery receives ongoing strategic funding from Louth County Council and the Arts Council of Ireland.

Highlanes Gallery is a registered charity (CHY 15753)

Highlanes Gallery

Mission Statement:

Highlanes Gallery aims to develop, preserve and promote excellence and innovation in the visual arts through our permanent collection, temporary exhibition programmes and associated activities for the people of Drogheda, the North East and national and international audiences.

Statement of Values:

In fulfilment of this Mission, Highlanes Gallery, a non-for-profit, permanent public institution in the service of society aspires to:

- Promote and exhibit excellent historic and contemporary local, national and international art in Drogheda and the north-east region through a dynamic and diverse programme of collection, exhibition and access initiatives.
- Care for, conserve, exhibit, communicate, acquire and research the Drogheda Municipal Art Collection
- Critically engage the widest public with historic and contemporary visual art across all levels, from zero to specialist, to employ best practice in the curation, exhibition and critical engagement with art and to provide an interface between the artist, curators and other specialists with the public
- Develop Highlanes Gallery’s core aims through partnerships