Write on Art 2025 Now Open for Applications

Write on Art, our national writing programme for young people of fourteen to nineteen years of age and run in collaboration with Art UK, is now open for applications.

Three new categories are being introduced for young writers to submit their pieces:

• creative writing
• review
• essay

This change has been made in recognition of the fact that art can be written about in a variety of ways and applicants may have a preference for how they share their reflections on an artwork they have chosen. All three categories will continue to invite young people to explore their personal, creative and critical responses to art.

This year’s judges are Jeremy Millar, Head of Programme for the MA in Writing at the Royal College of Art and Rachael Simpson, Young Peoples Producer at the V&A Dundee.

To enter the prize, young people across the UK of fourteen to nineteen years of age are asked to select one artwork from the Art UK website and write four to six hundred words about it in their chosen category.

Twelve successful applicants will be invited to attend a day-long Young Art Writers Workshop at the Royal College of Art in September 2025. The workshop will include writing and editing sessions, mentoring from industry professionals and the production of a zine featuring the twelve shortlisted essays. The workshop is intended to give young writers the space and support to hone their writing skills and the confidence to publish and share their work.

The portal for applications is open and will close at 11:59pm on 30 June 2025. More details on the competition and how to enter can be found on our website.