Walker Morris exhibition marks milestone in children’s calendar competition
WALKER Morris is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its award-winning Children’s Charity Calendar Painting Competition with a special exhibition at the Tetley Gallery in Leeds.
The Yorkshire law firm is commemorating this milestone of one of the longest community arts sponsorships by displaying an unprecedented collection of 250 pieces of children’s artwork from across the 20 years of the Calendar. The exhibition will run from November 7-16 and will occupy the ground floor space of the Gallery.
The Calendar Competition was launched in 1995 with the objective of raising the awareness of the importance of art and creativity in schools.
For two decades the competition has been encouraging young artists from across the Yorkshire and Humber region to paint a picture of their favourite month of the year which are then used to create a calendar which is sold in aid of Martin House Hospice.
Since the competition’s inception Walker Morris has raised more than £120,000 for the hospice.
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.
Next week, TheBusinessDesk.com will be featuring interviews with Walker Morris focussed on business investment in the community and the arts and celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Children’s Charity Calendar Painting Competition.
Walker Morris is also looking to further raise funds for Martin House Children’s Hospice throughout the duration of the Exhibition with a silent auction of the artworks.
Walker Morris partner, David Smedley said: “We are delighted to be celebrating two decades of our Children’s Charity Calendar Competition with this very special Exhibition at The Tetley Gallery. We never dared to believe when we started the Competition in 1995 that it would enjoy such longevity and success. I would like to especially thank all the children, parents, teachers and councils who have supported the competition and made it possible to continue. In particular, I would also like to thank Ashley Jackson for his unswerving support of the competition from its inception. His infectious enthusiastic for art and his commitment through the judging and master classes has been outstanding.
“We have a long and proud tradition for support of the arts including a number of headline sponsorships for example with the Saatchi Gallery, Royal Academy and Damien Hirst. Our Calendar Competition is particularly satisfying as it is our grass roots investment in the arts, encouraging art and creativity at primary school age – a crucial time to encourage art and creativity.”
