Winners announced for 20th Anniversary Children’s Charity Calendar Competition

10/11/2014

Walker Morris hosts special Ceremony and Exhibition at The Tetley

Walker Morris has announced the winners and runners-up for the landmark 20^th Anniversary edition of its Children’s Charity Calendar Painting Competition.

The winners and runners-up attended a special Presentation Ceremony held at the iconic Tetley, where Walker Morris is hosting an unprecedented public Exhibition of over 260 paintings from across the 20 years of the Competition.

This year’s winning and runner-up paintings will be on display as part of the Exhibition at the Tetley, which opened on Friday 7^th November and runs until Sunday 16^th November.

The 13 winners, one for each month of the year, plus the front page, were all presented with a hamper full of artists’ materials, plus a cheque for their schools for £250.  The 34 runners-up also received a prize each.

All the proceeds from the sale of the Calendar go to Martin House Children’s Hospice, which cares for Children and Young People with progressive life limiting illnesses, and provides support to their families.

This year, as part of the 20^th Anniversary celebration, Walker Morris has launched an auction book which will run for the duration of the Exhibition.  The auction is a unique opportunity to purchase one of the paintings and all the proceeds will go directly to Martin House Children’s Hospice.

Walker Morris partner and judge in the Competition, David Smedley, said:

“We are delighted for the winners and runners-up who have helped to make our 20^th Anniversary Calendar very special.  We never imagined when the Competition was launched 20 years ago it would develop to have such enduring and award-winning success.  It is testament to the creativity and talent of our region’s children and the support and of the schools, parents and teachers that it has become one of the longest running arts projects of its kind.  I’m grateful to my fellow judges, internationally renowned artist Ashley Jackson, and Dean Poole from West Yorkshire Printing for their commitment and support.  And I’d also like to thank our clients, contacts and members of the public who continue to support the Calendar by buying it each year.”

Ashley Jackson commented:

“The Walker Morris Calendar has finally come of age as it celebrates its 20th year and I feel like a proud parent having been fortunate to have been a judge on the competition throughout all the years. The longevity of the Calendar is in no small part down to the passionate commitment of Walker Morris, the school teachers and to the children who submit their paintings.  I wish to thank them all,  for they shine a light on the great emerging talent of Yorkshire art whilst raising funds for Martin’s House Children’s Hospice.

“The exhibition is a fantastic opportunity for the children to see their work hung in a professional exhibition space and I am sure they will be excited to play a role in celebrating the iconic landmark occasion of twenty years of the Calendar Competition. I wish to congratulate everyone who has ever taken part whether they have become part of the calendar or not they have all played a role in the longevity of the competition…..here’s to celebrating the next 20 years!”

Calendars are now on sale for £5.00. Please contact emily.gouldthorpe@walkermorris.co.uk or tel: 0113 283 2500.

Winners