Young London Print Prize
Young Londoners Using Art to Voice their Climate Dreams
All young people are artists in their own right
A 9-year-old girl from Woolwich has grabbed first prize ahead of 1,600 young artists from 31 schools in this year’s Young London Print Prize. The competition invites young Londoners to express their personal response to the climate crisis through the art of printmaking.
The beautiful, intricate winning entry by Pema Sherpa from Foxfield Primary School depicts the ocean floor and forest. Entitled ‘Fading hope’, it suggests how humanity has devalued and eroded nature. Her artwork was made using a layered block printing technique.
Second prize went to Muiz Mustafa from Shepherds Bush for his bold campaigning artwork called No fly Zone that harks back to a tradition of radical political posters. Third prize was awarded to Emma Tasnim from Whitechapel for her blue monoprint of a single bird, called Mystic Blues, a Puffin’s Hues, capturing the whimsical beauty of wildlife.
WHAT WE’RE ABOUT
The Young London Print Prize aims to inspire and showcase the work of young artists. It seeks to bridge the gap between compulsory education and the contemporary art world by directly involving young printmakers within it. All the work in this programme is created and judged by young people themselves.
Our intention is to help change the contemporary art world from the grassroots up so that it genuinely reflects the breadth of race, class and gender that you find in young Londoners. Because young people today are the art history of tomorrow and can be great artists in their own right.
how it works
Each year, we start by running free sessions of teacher training. These are designed to enhance the skills and aspirations of art teachers in primary schools and ensure that the Prize reflects their curriculum needs. Then we run in-school workshops with over 1,000 young people. Pupils learn how to make prints and prepare their own submission to the Prize. All the work is themed around the idea of climate art.
FOSTERING YOUNG ARTISTS
Submissions to the prize are judged by a team of Young Curators. These are Year 12 students, aged 16 or 17, from across London. They get to learn about careers in the art world and how to judge and curate. They pick a winner from every school which is then showcased at the Print Fair in November alongside world-renowned artists.
Every submission to the Prize is also captured in a book, to celebrate the work of these young artists, elevate arts education in schools, and bring the creative voice of young people to the mainstream conversation about issues such as climate change.
Previous Winners of young london print prIze
Pema Sherpa (age 9) | Fading Hope, 2024
Zahra Alam (Seven Mills Primary School) | The Glowing Moon, 2021
Emma Tasnim (age 10) | Mystic Blues, A Puffin's Hues, 2024
Sara Ahmed (Mayflower Primary School) Message on a Bottle, 2022
Mohammad Juman (Oxford Gardens Primary School) | The Land of Peace, 2021
Summer (Heronsgate Primary School) | Crystal Explosion, 2020
Angel (Foxfield Primary School) | Untitled 1, 2020
Prithvi Anish (Foxfield Primary School) The Sinking Ship, 2022
Jonathan (Bishop John Robinson Primary School) | Hybrid, 2020
TEACHErS’ PACK
Young people’s artwork
with thanks to our Programme partners
Berkeley Group builds homes and neighbourhoods. Their passion and purpose is to build quality homes, strengthen communities, and make a lasting positive difference to people’s lives.
A multi-media production company that works with young people and community organisations to produce experimental and entertaining podcasts, art exhibitions and film.
Westminster has set a target to reach net zero by 2040, working with businesses, communities and residents. Their support for YLPP is one part of this commitment.
Essdee is a UK manufacturer of Lino printing and Scraperboard products, which aim to inspire the next generation of artists and printmakers.
The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham is delivering a programme called Climate Action Together, building a place for future generations where people and nature thrive together.
LandSec is one of the leading real estate companies in the UK. It creates places that make a lasting positive contribution to communities and the planet.
Drawing on over 150 years of history and expertise, Peabody's mission is to help people make the most of their lives and provide affordable housing options for London key workers.
Foundation for Future London funds life-changing projects for the local communities of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.
Anthesis is the sustainability activator, seeking to create a more resilient and productive world by championing sustainable performance.