dot-art Schools in partnership with Edge Hill University are inviting the public to vote online as part of their annual art competition to find the Liverpool City Region’s best young artists.  All of the entries have been created by young artists in Year 5 and Year 9 from schools across the Liverpool City Region. A judging panel of respected arts professionals have shortlisted the top three entries from each participating school.  

The online public vote is open now until Sunday 1st May, for everyone to browse the shortlisted artworks on the dot-art Schools website then vote for their favourite.  

Carolyn Murray, dot-art Schools Project Manager said: “Every year I have the privilege of seeing hundreds of happy children and young people cheered on by their families and teachers at the prize giving and winner’s exhibition, giving them newfound confidence and encouraging them to carry on being creative. We’re inviting the public to vote for their favourite shortlisted artworks to be in that exhibition. Vote now and you could be making a young artist’s dreams come true.” 

As a national leader in high-quality teacher training Edge Hill is the perfect project partner, providing dot-art Schools with greater access to schools in the region and supporting its key aims of promoting creativity and good mental health. 

Dr Helen O’Keeffe, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Education said: “Our fantastic partnership with dot-art has helped promote our values of embracing the arts, getting creative and looking after children’s mental health in schools across the region, all things that are key to our curriculum here at the University. I’d encourage everyone to spend some time looking at the incredible artwork on the dot-art Schools website and vote for their favourite shortlisted piece.” 

 The competition is an inter-school, interactive, online art competition for Year 5 and Year 9. Taking part encourages children to explore their creativity, increasing their self-esteem by celebrating their art, as well as giving pupils a chance to express thoughts and feelings through art. 

To vote, visit the browse schools page, view the entries, and then click on the ‘VOTE NOW’ button under the artwork. Click the link on the confirmation email you will receive to have your vote counted. The entry with the most votes from each school wins a place in the 11th annual dot-art Schools exhibition, which is being held at  The Walker Art Gallery in June.  

To find out more about dot-art Schools contact Carolyn Murray at Carolyn.murray@dot-art.com. 

For more information about courses at Edge Hill University, visit the website www.edgehill.ac.uk.