Black Swan Arts Young Open 2025
Long Gallery

Every year we are impressed by the levels of excellence achieved by so many young artists in each of the three age-group categories, 8-11,12-15, 16-19.  2025 has been no exception.  This year the near-impossible task of choosing 3 prize-winners and 3 Highly Commended artworks in each age-group category was in the hands of our three fantastic art professional judges – Cath Bloomfield, Mel Day and Shona Brett.  They did not have an easy job.

And it’s not just the young artists themselves that we must thank for this exhibition, but also many parents, teachers and youth leaders for their support, encouragement and, very often, cash for the entry fee!  And talking of cash, many of the artworks on display are for sale, so the exhibition is a golden opportunity to acquire a piece by a future shining star of the artistic universe.

Black Swan Arts is a charity with no external sources of funding – no grants, no sponsorship, no public money. We are, therefore, very grateful for the support we have received this year from a range of professional artists for providing 1-2-1art workshops for the 9 prize-winners, Postscript for vouchers for art materials and the River House cafe. This show is genuinely a highlight of the year for our incredible volunteers and trustees, who are so very proud to celebrate the talent and creativity of young people. Without their help this event simply could not take place, meaning that many hundreds of young people would be denied the opportunity to see their outstanding artwork displayed in a major public gallery.