Equality and Human Rights Commission

Introduction

The Equality and Human Rights Commission's job is to break down inequality, build opportunity and support a civic society where fairness and the right of the individual to a life of dignity and respect is not merely an ideal but a fact. One of our key priorities is to work with young people to build a 'generation without prejudice'. This is essential if we are to develop a society in which everybody has the opportunity to achieve and lead a fulfilling life.

As part of a wider programme of work with young people, the Commission's Young Brits at Art awards are open to all 11-19 year olds from all backgrounds and walks of life who reside in England, Scotland and Wales. This academic year, young people are asked to show through their art work what the world would look like if we lived without prejudice.

The awards are not limited to schools. They can benefit young people in youth clubs, Connexions one-stop shops, Pupil Referral Units, church groups, libraries and leisure centres and other local council facilities. Charities and museums can use the awards as part of their existing youth programmes. Individual young people can also develop their own artwork and enter independently.

Resources for educators and facilitators which complement and reinforce learning under the National Curriculum in England and Wales and the Curriculum for Excellence being developed in Scotland are available online. The resources support cross-curriculum learning and are designed to encourage young people to make and share art that explores the meaning of equality and human rights in their lives.

Award rules

1. Entry to the awards is free and open to anyone aged 11-19 resident in Great Britain.
2. Entries may be created in any art media including, but not restricted to painting, printmaking, still animation, photography, computer generated imagery, drawing, textiles, and mixed media; sculpture, ceramics, and glass art; film, video, motion animation, and audio soundscapes.
3. Only one entry per person may be submitted.
4. All entries must be submitted in digital format (see submission of entries), either by the artists themselves or by a representative (parent or guardian, school, college or youth centre with the artist’s express permission). Institutions may upload or send individual or group submissions (one completed entry form per group member).
5. Submitted work must be produced especially for the awards and not predate them. It may be created as curriculum course work or in its own right.
6. For the 2010 awards artists are invited to submit entries that show their vision of what the world would look like if we lived without prejudice. Artists are free to interpret this vision in their own way and to choose a subject that stimulates their imagination. Suggested resources have been specially created to help inspire young people and facilitators. Artists and facilitators may also email art@equalityhumanrights.com with any queries about the awards.
7. Each entrant must submit a short statement of between 50-150 words together with their art work. Statements should explain:
   • What inspired the artist
   • How the artist developed his or her ideas
   • What media was used and how the artist experimented with it
   • How the artist feels about his or her piece of work
8. 100 art works will be shortlisted for the 2010 awards. Original art work or high quality reproductions will be required for the final judging process and will be retained by the Commission.
9. 2D work should be created on a support no larger than 50 x 60 cm. Up to three digital images of the art work may be sent as part of the initial submission (to include close-ups). If artists prefer to work on a larger scale, and their art work is subsequently shortlisted, they will be required to submit a good quality photographic reproduction for the final judging (see 23).
10. All 3D artwork should be represented by up to three photographic views, one of which will be selected if the work is shortlisted. The artist or representative will then be required to send in a good quality a photographic reproduction for the final judging, printed out within the 50 x 60 size limit (see 23).
11. Film, motion animation and audio soundscapes (digital media) should be no longer than 3 minutes.
12. Judges will consider the artist's interpretation of the brief and whether:
    • The entry is the product of a creative enquiry, which is an investigation of a focused issue or question, using imaginative methods to inspire the artist's thinking and to gather, form and express his or her ideas.
    • The entry will show or explain a process of discovery, not simply a finished work.
    • The entry will come across as authentic, which means that it is driven by personal thoughts and experiences - it is the artist's 'way of seeing’.
    • The entry may show or explain some experimentation with media, techniques or imagery.
    • The entry will have visual impact.
13. Winning and shortlisted art works will be retained permanently by the Commission, which reserves the right to reproduce the art works in printed, digital or other forms for promotional and educational purposes.
14. For more information on how to use the Young Brits at Art resources in schools, colleges, youth centres or within the context of special or home education, please visit www.equalityhumanrights.com/art. Queries by email are welcome.

Submission of entries

15. Entries should be submitted online at www.equalityhumanrights.com/art.
    
    Please note: due to technical difficulties, the entry deadline has now been extended to 30 April. Read more about how to enter.
     
16. Artists unable to submit their entries online should email art@equalityhumanrights.com to make alternative arrangements.
17. Alternative formats of the entry form in alternative formats including easy read, large print, braille and audio can be requested by email from art@equalityhumanrights.com.
18. Entrants are required to fill in all parts of the online submission and monitoring form. They will be asked to provide full personal and contact details, including any school, institution, or youth centre attended with contact information for teachers or youth workers where relevant. Entries will be required to state the art work title, medium and dimensions (2D and 3D work) or duration (film and audio). Entrants will need complete a basic monitoring form (a short questionnaire about their background.). The form will be available on this page from mid January.
19. Entrants must follow all the instructions found at www.equalityhumanrights.com/art for uploading artwork. Each artist will be issued with a unique identification number on receipt of the completed entry form for tracking purposes. Further instructions will be available on this page from mid January.

Submission deadlines

21. The deadline for initial entries (in digital format) is 30 April 2010.
    
    Please note that this date has been extended.
     
22. All submission forms must be sent complete or entries may be considered ineligible.

Judging

23. A shortlist of 100 art works will be selected over a number of rounds by art and education experts and representatives of the Commission in April 2010 from the digital files submitted. There will be a call for art work shortlisted for the final judging to be sent to the organisers on or after Friday 28 May 2010 to arrive no later than Tuesday 8 June 2010.  Art work should be sent in the following forms: 
    • Original 2D art work or a good photographic reproduction of it should be submitted unmounted and unframed, at a maximum size of 50 x 60cm
    • Photographs of 3D art work should be submitted printed out at a maximum 50 x 60cm (one view only)
    • Film and audio art work should be submitted as high quality uncompressed files on a CD, DVD or pen drive
24. The final round of judging from original artwork will take place at the Commission in late May / early June 2010.
25. The panel of judges and prizes will be announced in May 2010. No cash prizes will be awarded.
26. All entrants will receive a commemorative certificate.

See a list of last year's judges >

The awards ceremony

27. Shortlisted entrants will be invited to attend an awards ceremony in summer 2010 where their work will be displayed and where they will receive prizes and certificates.
28. An exhibition of selected entries will be available on the Commission's website.

See what happened at last years awards ceremony >

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