AIB Young Portrait Prize 2024

Enter the AIB Young Portrait Prize 2024

Deadline: 21 June 2024, 10pm (IST)

Our annual inclusive art competition aims to foster and support creativity, originality and self-expression in children and young people. The AIB Young Portrait Prize accepts entries from young people, up to the age of 18, of all abilities, from across the island of Ireland.

20 finalists in four categories (ages 6 and under, ages 7–11, ages 12–15 and ages 16–18), chosen by our panel of judges, will be displayed in an exhibition in the Gallery from 9 November 2024 until 9 March 2025. 

The overall competition winner will be awarded a personalised wooden box of high-quality art materials, specific to their choice of material in their portrait, and a cash prize of €500 at an award ceremony on 27 November 2024.

The entry form is available to download here: 

The brief:

  • Create a portrait of someone you know. You could choose a friend, a family member, your teacher, or even yourself!
  • Paintings, drawings, photographs, collages, sculpture and videos are all welcome.
  • You can enter through your school or by yourself.
  • Have fun and enjoy the process!

Age categories:

Young people of all abilities are invited to take part. Prizes will be awarded to one overall winner, plus one winner from each age category:

  • 6 years and under
  • 7  – 11 years
  • 12 – 15 years
  • 16 – 18 years

Entry form:

  • Download the AIB Young Portrait Prize entry form here
  • You must complete the full entry form. If you need help filling in the form, please ask your parent/guardian/teacher, as we cannot accept incomplete entry forms. If you need the form in an alternative format, please email [email protected].

How to submit your portrait:

Step 1: Read the competition rules and frequently asked questions.

Step 2: Download the entry form, and complete it in full. If you need help filling in the form, please ask your parent/guardian/teacher, as we cannot accept incomplete entry forms. If you need the form in an alternative format, please email [email protected]

Step 3: If your portrait is 2D or 3D, you need to take a digital photograph of it.

  • This photograph must be clear and include the portrait only. Your portrait will be judged based on the image you send to us!
  • Make sure it is taken with a good-quality camera phone or digital SLR camera.
  • Photograph your portrait in good light (natural day light is best), and make sure there is nothing blocking your portrait.
  • Avoid using filters on your camera - the photograph should represent the real thing!
  • Try hanging your portrait on a wall - this will help you achieve a good representation of your artwork.
  • If it is a three-dimensional portrait take a picture from three different angles. Make sure you clear some floor space or a table to do this.
  • See good and bad examples of photos of artworks in the competition rules and guidelines. 

Step 4: Email your completed application form to [email protected]. If your portrait is 2D or 3D, you must attach the image(s) to the same email. If your portrait is a video or audio, you need to send it via the file-sharing service WeTransfer to [email protected]. Use your own name for the title of the video/audio file. You also need to email your completed application form to [email protected].

Deadline to enter:

  • Don't forget! You must enter before 21 June 2024 at 10pm (Ireland time).
  • Best of luck to everyone entering the competition!

What happens after you submit your entry to the AIB Young Portrait Prize?

  • An expert panel of external judges will choose a shortlist of 20 portraits which will be displayed in a special exhibition in the National Gallery of Ireland.
  • The shortlisted portraits will be prepared for exhibition by the Gallery's expert team of technicians. This means they will be professionally framed or made display-ready in a way that suits the portrait.
  • The AIB Young Portrait Prize 2024 exhibition will open in the Gallery on 9 November 2024 and close on 9 March 2025.
  • The judges will choose five winners from the shortlisted portraits in the exhibition: one overall winner, plus four highly commended entrants, one from each age category:
    • 6 years and under
    • 7 – 11 years
    • 12 – 15 years
    • 16 – 18 years

Prizes

The five winners will each receive a personalised art-material box, specific to their choice of material in their portraits, and a cash prize. All twenty shortlisted entrants will also come away with a professionally framed/prepared artwork.

An exhibition sponsored by AIB Insurance plc, organised by the National Gallery of Ireland.