We were excited to hear that Year 12’s Matilda J was shortlisted for the Write on Art Prize.  Write on Art is an annual national writing competition sponsored by Art UK and the Paul Mellon Centre to encourage an interest in art history among young people. Entries were open to all UK students in Years 10 and 11 / 12 and 13, with entrants required to choose one piece of artwork featured on the Art UK website and write about it. Writers were encouraged to share their interest and enthusiasm for a particular piece, sharing how the work made them feel, or what they believe it stands for.

Ms Farmer accompanied Matilda to the ceremony at the Paul Mellon Centre earlier this month.  There were excellent speeches by the Director of Art UK Andrew Ellis, and the two judges: Sarah Munro the Head of the Baltic and Art Historian Ruth Millington who awarded Matilda second prize for her age category in a highly contested competition. Matilda wrote a wonderful piece about “Lady Jane Grey Looks Back” painted by Paul Delaroche showing the execution of Lady Jane Grey, England’s shortest reigning monarch.

Ms Farmer congratulated Matilda on her writing, calling it a “huge achievement.”