News

15 February 2017

The deadline is approaching for creative schoolchildren from across Scotland to enter the 2017 Fringe Schools Poster Competition where three winning designs will inspire three different covers of the 70^th anniversary Fringe Programme.

The Fringe Schools Poster Competition is one of Scotland’s longest-running arts outreach projects with more than 100,000 young people taking part since its inception in 1980.

The competition is open to young people in Scotland from Primary 1 to Senior 6 and winners will be selected from three age categories, with each winning design inspiring a different front cover.

Pupils across Scotland are encouraged to enter the competition and have lots of fun creating entries in the classroom alongside learning all about the Fringe. 

The 2016 competition saw an impressive 4,900 entries from schools across Scotland.

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society which organises the Schools Poster Competition supported by Virgin Money, said:

“Not only is the Schools Poster Competition a chance to celebrate the talent and imagination of Scotland’s young artists, it’s also an engaging educational project that can be adapted by teachers across the curriculum to suit their students. The competition introduces the next generation to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe whilst promoting freedom of expression and creative skills. This year is extra special as Scotland’s schoolchildren will inspire the design of the Fringe’s 70^th anniversary year programme which will no doubt become a collector’s item for years to come.”

The Fringe Society has engaged illustrator, community artist and theatre-maker Jon Bishop, who works under the moniker The Grey Earl, to champion the competition. Jon, known for his popular illustrations including the ‘Batboy’ and ‘Stars are Braw’ series.

Jon Bishop, aka The Grey Earl, says:

“I feel incredibly honoured to be representing the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Schools Poster Competition this year, as its champion artist.

Looking back over the many years that the competition has run, it’s amazing to see the incredible ideas and creative results that have been achieved by pupils, from schools all over the country. That creativity is indeed something to be celebrated and nurtured both in school and throughout life and can help to shape some grown-up artists in the future.

....and now for a quote from the one and only, Mr Pablo Picasso,

‘Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist when we grow up’. “

A new trophy called the Creative Stars Award has been added to the competition prize list for 2017. Awarded in partnership with Dynamic Earth, this trophy will go to a school or class who have been adventurous and innovative in their approach to their entries and learning about the Fringe. The lucky winners will also receive a free visit for their school to five-star attraction, Dynamic Earth, for the 2017/2018 academic year. All 2017 entries will automatically be put forward for this award after the deadline on 03 March 2017, 17:00.

Teachers have until the 03 March 2017 to submit their pupils’ entries either by post or digitally.

Information for schools wishing to take part, including a creative brief, new teaching resources and the entry pack, can be found on edfringe.com/poster

-Ends-

Notes to Editors

For more information, please contact the Fringe Media Office
[email protected]/ +44 (0)131 240 1919

Entries for the Fringe Schools Poster Competition should be sent to: Schools Poster Competition, Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, 180 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QS no later than 17:00, Friday 03 March 2017.

The competition is open to all Primary 1 to Senior 6 pupils at schools in Scotland. Full details of the competition along with the entry pack, prize information and learning resources can be downloaded at www.edfringe.com/poster.

The prizes for the top three artists and their schools are:

Pupils – £150 (cash) and £150 arts and culture voucher

Schools – £250 (cash) and £250 arts and culture voucher

In 2016, 395,000 copies of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Programme were printed.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, the charity that underpins the Edinburgh Festival Fringe was established in 1958, eleven years after the birth of the Fringe when the first performers turned up uninvited to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival. The Fringe is an open access festival – any artist or company can take part regardless of their experience or success and the festival is not programmed or run by an artistic director or any selection body. As a registered charity, the Fringe Society exists to support all participants, industry professionals, media and audience members who attend the Fringe from all around the world, and to produce accurate and up-to-date information and ticketing for audiences, and to raise the profile of the festival as a whole.

The 2017 Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs from 04 – 28 August.