This year Turner  Contemporary and Canterbury Christ Church University are offering an unparalleled opportunity for students aged between 4-19 and teachers in Kent and  Medway to exhibit their work alongside internationally renowned artists.

In celebration of the competition’s 10 year history, successful entrants will have their work displayed in Turner  Contemporary’s main  gallery space as part of the 2017 summer exhibition programme, featuring British sculptor Phyllida Barlow, who is representing Britain in the prestigious Venice Biennale, as well as one of her former students, Kenyan artist Michael Armitage, alongside JMW Turner. In addition, Turner  Contemporary will be showing work by young people in Africa and of African origin living outside the continent as part of MASK School for Creativity and  Innovation’s annual competition, The MASK prize.

Since Turner  Contemporary opened, the summer exhibition programme has consistently attracted in excess of 150,000 visits, with coverage reaching local, national and international press.

This year’s competition theme is ‘Making a Change’ and explores how art has the power to change attitudes, people and places. It is inspired by the summer 2017 season of exhibitions at Turner  Contemporary, which will bring together artists, teachers, young people and audiences of all ages and different cultures to celebrate the vital role of art in society.

Alongside the summer 2017 exhibition programme the gallery’s most ambitious learning programme to date, Art Inspiring Change, will come to fruition as 80 primary school children from four schools takeover the town and work with artists to transform four specific sites in Margate.

Karen  Eslea, Head  of Learning and Visitor Experience at Turner  Contemporary says:

“Putting a young person’s work alongside an established artist speaks volumes – it’s rare, ambitious and ultimately, emboldening. At its core summer 2017 celebrates Turner  Contemporary’s belief that by bringing great art and  people together every individual can  find the most creative version of themselves and  in turn become bolder, more active and  energised to make positive change in their community.”

Alla Tkachuk, the Founder of the MASK Prize  says:

“The MASK Prize, the unique pan-African competition, encourages and celebrates creativity of young Africans. Marking the MASK Prize’s 5th year and the Portfolio’s 10th year, and  sharing a common theme, ‘Making a Change’, this is a great opportunity for young people across the two continents to come together and  express their ideas and  thoughts on the changes they  would  like to see in the world to better their lives. In the time of rapid global change, our survival will depend on new generations being empowered to generate new solutions for more peaceful, prosperous and  fulfilled life.”

Information: 01843  233000, turnercontemporary.org