Children and young people in the county, aged 25 and under, are invited to submit work for the ‘Where’s Your Head?’ project, exploring the theme of ‘art and emotion’.
The project is a new open call organised by The Box in Plymouth, with support from Arts University Plymouth.
Adam Milford, engagement programmes manager at The Box, said: “‘Where’s Your Head At?’ is an invitation to young people across the region to make bold work about real life.
“We’re creating a public platform for young voices and ideas and want entrants to know that their creativity is important.”
The competition is free to enter, and a selection of submissions will be exhibited at The Box during summer 2026.
Prizes include £150 to spend in The Box’s shop.
The exhibition will run alongside a major display featuring more than 60 works from the Government Art Collection, on show from June 20 to September 20, 2026.
The Government Art Collection exhibition has been shaped by conversations and workshops with teenagers and young adults over the past year.
It will feature pieces from well-known artists including Alvaro Barrington, Barbara Hepworth, and Alberta Whittle, alongside personal reflections from young people aged 13 to 25.
The open call comes at a time when national conversations are focused on youth wellbeing, belonging, and the importance of creative opportunity.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s ‘Youth Matters: State of the Nation’ report in December 2025 gathered the views of more than 14,000 young people in England.
It reinforced the value of listening to young people directly.
Other reports, including The Good Childhood Report 2025 and the Cultural Learning Alliance’s Report Card 2025, have also emphasised concerns around emotional health and limited access to arts education.
Professor Stephen Felmingham, academic pro vice-chancellor at Arts University Plymouth, said: “Arts University Plymouth is proud to support The Box on ‘Where’s Your Head At?’, helping to champion the ambition and creativity of young people across the South West.
“As a specialist arts university, we see how making can help people communicate what matters and build confidence.
“This open call gives young artists a serious public platform, and we hope it encourages every entrant to feel seen, supported, and proud of what they create.”
Entrants can submit artwork in any medium, with the only stipulation being that submissions must be original and not created using AI image generators.
Entries must be emailed to theboxcompetition@plymouth.gov.uk, with the subject line ‘Children and Young People’s Open 2026’.
The entrant’s full name and age category should be included in the body of the email.
The file should be labelled with the entrant’s initials, date of entry, age category (early years – EY, primary – P, secondary – S, young person – YP), and the first part of their postcode.
Entries close at 5pm on Sunday, May 3.
