dot-art Schools are working in partnership with Edge Hill University to launch the 11th annual art competition aimed at boosting creativity in schools.   

Established in 2012, dot-art Schools is an inter-school art competition for Year 5 and Year 9. It provides hundreds of children in the Liverpool City Region with the opportunity to develop their artistic side, have their skills recognised and envision a future career in the arts.  

The annual competition ends with an awards ceremony and winners exhibition in Liverpool. For most children the exhibition is the first time they can really show off their creativity to their parents and peers, giving them the confidence and drive to continue making art.   

Mr Danny Metz, the teacher of overall primary winner Cleo James from Blackmoor Park Junior School, said: “It was wonderful to celebrate Cleo’s achievement with her. She worked so hard on it, and we’re thrilled that the judges recognised her creativity and talent. She says it has inspired her to crack on and create more art.”  

The impact of the programme has grown each year, with 683 schools participating to date, and 10,399 young artists having entered their artwork. 

Carolyn Murray, dot-art Schools Project Manager said: “In 10 years of running this competition we’ve seen it go from strength to strength and the results speak for themselves. Every year I have the privilege of seeing hundreds of happy children cheered on by their parents, guardians and teachers, giving them newfound confidence and encouraging them to carry on being creative. It’s such an exciting opportunity for schools and it’s so easy to take part.” 

As the leading project partner, Edge Hill is nationally renowned for high-quality teacher training and has a long history of teaching education going back to its foundation in 1885. The University provides dot-art with greater access to schools in the region. 

Dr Helen O’Keeffe, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Education said: “Our fantastic partnership with dot-art has helped to promote creativity and during the pandemic we saw how it could also promote good mental health in schools, two things that are key to our curriculum here at the University. I’d encourage every school in the city region to try the competition and find out for themselves how much the children and teachers enjoy the experience.” 

To find out more about dot-art Schools, contact Carolyn Murray on 0345 017 6660 or Carolyn.murray@dot-art.com.  

Edge Hill University runs a number of courses in education and teacher training. Visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/study to find out more.