A Warwickshire school pupil will represent the Midlands after winning a regional competition aimed at building confidence and a love of art among teenagers.
Articulation is an acclaimed nationwide competition designed to promote the appreciation and discussion of visual culture, while instilling a sense of confidence in participants aged 16 – 18.
The final for the competition is held each spring in London, with regional finals occurring across the country in January.
Discovery Days are typically held at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum each September. Helmed by Brian Scholes of the venue’s Learning and Development team, Discovery Days are essentially free workshops for KS5 students to help develop critical analysis, research and public speaking skills.
Last week the Herbert hosted the regional final, which saw a selection of schools that participated in the Discovery Days nominate a candidate who compiled and performed a presentation about a piece of art.
Thomas from King Edward VI School in Stratford-upon-Avon presented a talk on Michelangelo’s sculpture Prisoners, with adjudicator, the renowned learning curator John Sleigh, crowning him the regional champion.
Thomas will now go forward to represent the Midlands at the Articulation Grand Final at the British Library in London on March 20.
Brian, who has been overseeing the programme, said: “All the presentations were very good so it was a difficult choice for John the adjudicator.
“But the presentation from Thomas just pipped the others and I think he’ll do a fantastic job of representing the Midlands at the Grand Final in London next month.”
Discussing the Articulation programme and its benefits, Brian added: “It builds up the students’ confidence in terms of their presenting skills, but it also promotes their appreciation of art. And it’s really at a vital time in their lives too, when they’ll be expected to do presentations in terms of school, university or work.
“The programme is great and gives me an enormous feeling of pride at seeing the progress made by the students.”
Find out more about Articulation here.