News

23 November 2015

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is calling on budding young artists in Scotland to come up with a unique and eye-catching design for the 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe poster.

The 2015 Schools Poster Competition attracted over 5,300 entries from 171 schools across Scotland. Seven-year-old John Imray from St Mary’s School in Melrose was crowned the overall winner in May, and his design became the official poster of the 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Launching the 2016 Schools Poster Competition, which is supported by Virgin Money, Kath M Mainland, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said:

“I’m delighted to officially open the 2016 Fringe Schools Poster Competition, and invite all schools from across Scotland to take part.

“The competition is a fantastic way for students aged five to 16 to get creative in the classroom and inspires engagement with the arts.  

“It’s really exciting to launch this competition as it marks the start of the run up to the 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe season. Thanks to the support of Virgin Money, the successful poster design is used across Edinburgh and beyond to promote the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. And the winning entry, along with the runners-up and regional winners’ designs, will form an exhibition on display in the centre of Edinburgh throughout the summer for the public to enjoy. It really is a unique opportunity for schoolchildren to get their artwork seen by thousands of people.

“This year we’re hoping for another huge response from schools across Scotland.”

Each year, the winning design is transformed into the official poster for the Fringe, and there are prizes of up to £750 for the top three prize-winners and their schools. fourteen regional winners are also announced, and all winning entries, as well as runners-up and shortlisted entries form an exhibition on display in Edinburgh.

Head of Sponsorship Marketing at Virgin Money, Andrew Nicholson said:

“Virgin Money is thrilled to support the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Schools Poster Competition. It is a brilliant initiative which inspires the imagination and creativity of Scotland’s young artists and it has become an important tradition over the 35 years it has been running.”

Art Teacher Deborah Wood who taught 2015 competition winner John Imray said:

“Every year our art department and pupils look forward to entering the Fringe Schools Poster Competition – it radiates a buzz of creativity all around the school.

“The day of the prize-giving ceremony has provided John with memories that will last a lifetime. It was a wonderful day for all present, with lots of smiles from the three young artists and their delighted family, friends and teachers.

“All of us at St Mary’s were thrilled to see John and his artwork in the press and of course to see his artwork on all of 2015’s varied merchandise. The prize money was a fabulous boost to our art department and has enriched the learning of our school community.

“Many thanks must go to Virgin Money for their generous sponsorship and to all the staff at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society who made one little boy’s day quite so special!”

Notes to Editors

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 04 March 2016.

The competition is open to all five to 16 year old pupils at schools in Scotland and the entry pack and learning resources can be downloaded at www.edfringe.com/poster. The cash prizes for the top three artists and their schools are:

First
School – £750
Pupil – £300

Runners-up (x 2)
School – £400
Pupil – £150

The winner and runners-up will also receive six tickets each for the 2016 Virgin Money Fireworks Concert in Edinburgh.

Images of past winners are available. The overall winner of the 2015 competition was John Imray, seven, from St Mary’s School in Melrose.

For more information contact our Media team on 0131 240 1919 or email [email protected].