The winners of the Fourth Plinth Schools Awards 2024 were announced today, with the winning artwork on display at an exhibition in London’s City Hall until the end of June 2024. They were chosen by this year’s guest judge, the internationally renowned photographer Rankin.
The annual competition invites London schoolchildren between the ages of 5 and 15 to create artwork inspired by past and present commissions for Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth. It is open to all primary and secondary schools in the capital. Those entering can use any medium, including drawing, painting, sculpture, collage and digital to create their artwork. Group and individual entries are welcome.
Rankin said:
It has been incredibly inspiring to see the entries for this year’s Fourth Plinth Schools Awards; there is a huge amount of talent on show here across all age groups and it made the judging extremely difficult. Arts and creativity are so key in our society and to our well-being, especially for the mental health of children. I hope to encourage some of these children that although art can be a wonderful hobby a career is the creative industries is something they can absolutely aspire to.
The age group winning works for the 2024 awards are:
Ages 5 – 7 winner: Autumn, Strand-on-the-Green Junior School, Hounslow
Ages 8 – 11 winner: Creature, Townley High School, Bexley
Ages 12 – 15 winner: The Dog who went to Space, Bromley High School
For the first time in the history of the Fourth Plinth, St Martin-In-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square is partnering with the Fourth Plinth Schools Awards to fabricate the three winning works. These will be installed in the historic building and unveiled this autumn, remaining on display until the end of the year.
Congratulations all the talented young artists who took part in our Fourth Plinth Schools Awards. We were all bowled over by their brilliant ideas and I know we have lit the spark for many to continue their creative journeys. So far over 35,000 young people have taken part in this flagship London award – showing how the Fourth Plinth Commission itself continues to inspire.
This year was particularly special with iconic British photographer Rankin selecting the winners. Access to art for everyone is vital, as well as developing artistic talent, it builds confidence and grows essential life skills, giving young people the best start in life and making London the best city to grow up in.
Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries
We are delighted to be partnering with the Fourth Plinth Schools Awards to showcase the work of these brilliant young artists. St Martin’s, which receives over one million visitors a year, prides itself on supporting emerging talent and as part of its fund raising ‘Yes Campaign’, aims to continue to support and encourage story telling through art.
Lucy Littlewood, Director of the St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust,
This year’s competition saw entries from more than 2,500 students across the city, showcasing the creativity of schoolchildren in the capital. There were 49 prizes awarded, including one winning proposal for each London borough. Since the launch of the programme in 1998, the Fourth Plinth Schools Awards has received almost 35,000 entries from schoolchildren across every London borough.
Previous judges have included Fourth Plinth artists Mark Wallinger, Michael Rakowitz, Yinka Shonibare CBE, David Shrigley and Heather Phillipson.
The Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square is one of the most important art commissions worldwide, putting new work by internationally renowned artists into the heart of London. This year marks 25 years since the first work, Ecce Homo by Mark Wallinger, was unveiled in 1999. 14 works have been displayed on the iconic site to date, with Samson Kambalu’s Antelope currently in situ. Improntas (Imprints) by Teresa Margolles will be installed in September 2024.
The awards are provided by Cass Art, the UK’s leading art supplies retailer. The Fourth Plinth is funded by the Mayor of London with support from Arts Council England and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
