ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
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ON THE ARTS MAP
ST EDMUND ’ S FESTIVAL :
THE ART PRIZE
The Striphouse in Red
2023 Canterbury Art Prize winner , James McFarlane
2022 Canterbury Art Prize winner , Selma Malasi
Warped Time
The end of June hosts one of Kent ’ s most unique creative festivals : St Edmund ’ s Festival in Canterbury . It ’ s a week-long celebration of music , arts , theatre and all things creative - with a dash of sport , too - that pulls in celebrities from all fields . This year ’ s events include the world-famous Pasadena Roof Orchestra , singer and saxophonist Curtis Stigers , and cricketing legend Henry Blofeld along with many others at the historic school on St Thomas Hill .
A major element of the festival is the Canterbury Art Prize . Open to all year 7 - 13 pupils at every school in East Kent , the competition is already being seen as a launchpad for the key artists of tomorrow . It ’ s part of the festival ’ s wider aim to provide inspiration and creative opportunities for all local youngsters . Scores of entries for the 2024 prize have already been received on the theme of ‘ Journeys ’, ready for shortlisting on 19 June . Winners and awards will be held on the first day of the festival , 26 June , with an exhibition open all festival week .
The Art Prize started in 2022 and was the brainchild of Dave Parker , managing director of The Canterbury Auction Galleries - already a partner of the festival along with local developer Paul Roberts . “ I ’ d seen a wonderful display of art at St Edmund ’ s and talked to the headmaster about my long-held wish for a schools ’ art initiative across Kent ,” says Dave . “ I believed the festival could serve as a unifying event for all schools - proving that you can come from any background in Kent or any school and compete on an equal footing , with art being the catalyst . He was as enthusiastic as me and it rolled out from there .”
Every year , the St Edmund ’ s art department collates scores of entries – from painting and drawing to printmaking , ceramics and photography – ready for judging by a panel of independent experts . Winners gain not just prizes but recognition and the chance to have their artwork showcased at Canterbury ’ s prestigious art gallery , Lilford ’ s .
In 2022 , the overall prize was won by Selma Malasi from Simon Langton Girls ’ for her lino print , Warped Time . Selma , 18 , has since rocketed into the upper echelons of the art world and she now attends leading London art school , Central St Martins . After winning the Canterbury Art Prize , one of her paintings was selected for the Royal Academy ’ s Young Artists ’ Summer Show and her work was selected for the Turner Contemporary Exhibition . Speaking of her art teachers , Selma says : “ They were wonderful . It was like a little family there and my weird , wacky ideas received nothing but encouragement ! Winning the Art Prize gave me such confidence and faith in myself . I felt that I could hold my own against competition and there is a LOT of that in the art world .”
The 2023 overall winner was James McFarlane , 19 , from Simon Langton Boys ’ for his Edward Hopper-inspired The Striphouse in Red , a painting of a diner in New York . He now attends the highlyregarded Arts University , Bournemouth , where he is using his love of urban art to expand into film production . He aims to become a cinematographer and director . He too credits his art teachers and parents for their encouragement , and the Art Prize for helping his direction , saying : “ Winning the prize confirmed to me that I was doing the right thing and it really enhanced my portfolio , which got me the place at the university I chose .”
To see the programme and book tickets , please head to the website .
www . stedmundsfestival . org . uk
www . insidekent . co . uk • 61