Ilkley Carnival’s annual creative competition is back as organisers launch their search for the 2025 programme cover design!
Children and young people aged 5-16 across LS29 are being asked to enter the competition and wow judges with a spectacular image to represent this year’s “Ilkley – Past, Present and Future” theme, with the winner securing their design on the front of the programme which will be seen by more than 10,000 visitors to the town.
The competition is sponsored by Bradford Grammar School - once home to the world-renowned artist David Hockney – whose art department is providing prizes of an art set and a bespoke arts workshop at the school for the winner and their classmates. Bradford Grammar School students Eve and Charlie joined art teacher Henry Thornton to launch the initiative at the school this week.
Offering words of wisdom for creating an impactful front cover, art teacher Henry Thornton said:
"This year’s carnival theme of Ilkley – Past, Present and Future links brilliantly with our district’s City of Culture year. The competition encourages children to embrace art while really thinking about and researching their local area in a way which allows cultural reflection from what’s been created there, who are the people who have made a difference, what it stands for and what the future looks like.
“This is the perfect canvas to unleash those artistic skills, get creative and have fun. Think vibrant colours and lots of imagination to create a design which captures the spirit of this year’s event. Your creation could become a lasting reminder of 2025’s cultural celebration, emblazoned on the cover of the Ilkley Carnival programme.”
The competition falls into three entry categories for children aged 5-8, 9-11 and 12-16, with a closing date of 7 March. All category winners will have their winning designs framed and the overall winner will see their design on the cover of the programme and will receive the two art-themed prizes from Bradford Grammar School.
Ilkley Carnival’s sponsorship and creative competition lead Colin Watson, who also designs and produces the Ilkley Carnival programmes, is visiting all schools in the area to deliver the competition entry forms. PDF entry forms can also be downloaded from the Ilkley Carnival website here: www.ilkleycarnival.org/creative-competition/
Colin said:
“The programme is seen every year by around 10,000 visitors and as well as an important guide to the day, it provides a lasting memento of what this year will be a historic, cultural event, dovetailing into Bradford’s City of Culture year. I’m hoping to see entries that really jump off the page and which show real imagination and creativity bringing our theme to life. We can’t wait to see what our local young people create and to transfer the winning design onto the cover of the 2025 event programme.”
Ilkley Carnival commences at 11am on Monday 5 May with its spectacular parade which begins on The Grove and ends at East Holmes Field showground which will be home to headline acts, a fun dog show, trade and charity stalls and a host of free children’s activities from the craft tent to Punch and Judy.
All carnival creative entries must be received by Friday 7 March. For independent entries, please deliver or post to Pinnacle Graphic Design, 32-34 The Grove, Ilkley, LS29 9EE in an envelope clearly marked ‘Ilkley Carnival Creative Competition’. School entries will be collected from the school by a carnival representative. Please ensure your name, age, entry category, address and contact number or email is clearly written on the back of each entry.
For more information, visit the carnival’s website on www.ilkleycarnival.org and for more information on Bradford Grammar click here www.bradfordgrammar.com
To keep updated with all the news follow @IlkleyCarnival on X [Twitter], Instagram and Facebook.
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