Competition

'It belongs to being alive' – Conference Arts Competition 2023

“It is true that a creation can be a picture of a house or a garden or a costume or a hairstyle or a symphony or a sculpture; anything from a meal cooked at home. It would perhaps be better to say that these things could be creations. The creativity that concerns me here is a universal. It belongs to being alive.”

• Donald Winnicott, ‘Creativity and its Origins’

What does ‘being alive’ mean for you, in 2023? It’s that simple. We’re curious.

Wherever you are in your career and your journey. What has made you feel alive, and what deadens that feeling? At work, at home, in the liminal spaces in between.

In this year’s conference competition, we’re encouraging you all to reach into yourselves and express the things that belong to being alive.

So please send us your submissions - we want to hear from you.

Whether it’s sculpture, painting or poetry, all artistic media are welcome, as long as they can feasibly be displayed at the conference (if in doubt, please do get in touch with us to discuss).

Shortlisted pieces will be exhibited at the Midlands Arts Centre for viewing by delegates during the day of the conference, and the winner will be announced at the close of the day.

Deadline for submissions: 1^st May 2023

Please e-mail submissions or any questions to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If your submission is a piece of visual art, you can email a scan or photograph of the piece and if shortlisted, we will invite you to bring the original for display on the day.