NEW ART AND LITERARY COMPETITIONS ARE TO BE LAUNCHED THIS AUTUMN
Calling artists and authors who are inspired by the Island, its scenery, its history, its culture, its identity.
A new art competition, focused on the Island’s rural landscape, and a literary competition, modelled on the famous ‘Booker Prize’, will be held this autumn.
The two competitions are being sponsored by BCR Law LLP, following an initiative by Jersey’s RURAL magazine. They are being hosted by the Art in the Frame Foundation at the Harbour Gallery Jersey.
The Arts Competition
The focus of the arts competition is on artists with a strong connection to Jersey (not necessarily resident) and the work submitted should reflect Jersey’s rural landscape, culture and identity.
The works should be created in the 12 months preceding the competition.
There is no restriction on medium; painting, photography, mixed media, collage etc are all eligible. There are four categories:
- Landscape
- Seascape (including beachscapes)
- Rural Activity including animals/human activity
- A Judge’s Discretionary Award to recognise standout work
There will be a prize of £300 awarded to the winner of each category, which is sponsored by BCR Law LLP.
Intending competitors should inform The Harbour Gallery Jersey by 20 May via e-mail about their intention to exhibit. They will be contacted by the Gallery in early July for further information about the nature and content of their submission.
The Gallery will contact them by mid-August again for information on title, medium and price.
The awards will be announced on the opening evening of 11 September, and the exhibition will remain open for the following three weeks. All works will be offered for sale.
The judges will be: Managing Partner of BCR Law LLP, David Benest; Marketing and Events Manager of the National Trust for Jersey, Sophie Gorman and former Head of Art at De La Salle College Mark Blanchard.
The Literary Competition
The separate literary awards competition, modelled on the ‘Booker Prize’ awards is a separate event, and will be held at The Harbour Gallery Jersey on Thursday 12th November 2026.
Eligible submissions should be for works by Jersey-connected authors or Jersey-themed works. Only published books with a physical presence are eligible, not those that can only be accessed digitally.
The eligible publication window should be two years prior to the competition.
There will be three sections:
- Fiction
- Non-fiction (including local history and academic work)
- Children’s fiction (avoiding purely pictorial books)
A prize of £250 will be offered for each category (no prize will be offered if there is only one entry per category).
The judging panel will consist of BCR Law LLP Managing Partner, David Benest, former JEP editor and co-founder of the Jersey Festival of Words, Chris Bright, and Jennifer Bridge.
Managing Partner of BCR Law LLP and competition sponsor David Benest said:
‘At BCR Law LLP, we are committed to building a strong and vibrant community, one where creativity and collaboration are celebrated. Guided by our values of excellence, delivery, respect, and elegance, we strive to make a positive impact in everything we do, from supporting our colleagues to serving our clients and contributing to the community we call home. Sponsoring this event is a natural extension of those values, allowing us to celebrate local talent while giving back to the community that inspires us.’
Publisher and editor of RURAL magazine Alasdair Crosby said:
‘There is sometimes an impression that RURAL magazine is a local version of Farmers Weekly and is only concerned with cows, potatoes and tractors. We are most certainly much more than that; localism and Island culture are as much part of our remit as are ways of working in or enjoying the countryside. Competitions that celebrate the rural environment through the arts, and encourage local authors are a close fit for our overall editorial content.’
Pat Robson BEM said: ‘Art in the Frame Foundation Jersey Charity no 21 is delighted to be working with Rural Magazine and sponsor BCR Law LLP on these two exciting projects, in this our 25th Anniversary Year.’
- For further information contact about submitting entries to both competitive events contact:
Pat Robson, Art in the Frame Foundation c/o The Harbour Gallery Jersey: partintheframe@yahoo.co.uk
- For press enquiries contact:
Alasdair Crosby, editor RURAL magazine alasdair.crosby@ruraljersey.co.uk
