Walker Morris celebrates successful CSR project

AS ONE of the largest employers in Yorkshire, law firm Walker Morris is dedicated to “giving something back”.

The Leeds-headquartered firm, which employs around 500 people in the region, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Children’s Calendar Competition with a special exhibition at the Tetley Gallery. This is one of the longest running CSR projects of its kind. 

Debbie Jackson, partner at Walker Morris, said the firm recognises the importance of engaging with the community. “The Calendar Competition does that in two ways,” she says. “It supports a really worthwhile charity and encourages children to bring out their creative side to art.”

Janie Newton, an art teacher at Seacroft Grange primary school, which took part in the competition, said she believes the competition heightens the status of art in primary school.

Here’s a short interview with both Debbie and Janie.

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Walker Morris said the competition is something that resonates with the culture at the firm, because art challenges perceptions and opinions and that’s reflected in its working environment, as it likes to inspire lawyers to come up with creative solutions for clients.

“It brings benefits to the firm, our employees, our communities and the city,” Walker Morris said.

Walker Morris is displaying an unprecedented collection of 250 pieces of children’s artwork from across the 20 years of the Calendar Competition.  The exhibition runs until Sunday and occupies the complete ground floor space of the Gallery.

The Calendar Competition was launched in 1995 with the clear objective of raising the awareness of the importance of art and creativity in schools. Winning pupils receive hampers of painting materials and the schools themselves receive a grant towards art. This award-winning initiative has allowed primary schools, particularly those under financial pressure, to provide additional art resources, teaching and art clubs for its pupils.  Over the years, winners’ paintings have been exhibited at the National Media Museum, Leeds Art Gallery, Harewood House and on the Saatchi Gallery website.

All the proceeds from the sale of the Calendar go to fundraising for Martin House Children’s Hospice. Walker Morris is looking to further raise funds throughout the duration of the Exhibition with a silent auction of the artworks.