Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, today launched a national
children’s art competition, inviting young artists across Ireland to share their vision of an
“Ireland of the Future”.
Open to children aged 4-15, the competition encourages children to create artworks
that captures their hopes, dreams and ideas for the Ireland they would like to see in the
years ahead.
The competition forms part of celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of Growing Up
in Ireland (GUI), the landmark national study that has followed the lives and experiences
of children and young people across Ireland for two decades.
As GUI looks back on 20 years of listening to children’s voices, this competition offers a
new opportunity for children to share their perspectives through creativity and art.
Launching the competition, Minister Foley said:
“The Growing Up in Ireland study has played an important role in helping us understand
the lives, experiences, goals and dreams of children and young people over the past 20
years. As we celebrate this anniversary, I am pleased to invite children across Ireland to
share their vision for the future through art.
I am looking forward to seeing the wonderful artwork, imagination and fresh
perspectives that children across the country will bring to this competition.”
The overall winning artwork will form part of a new permanent art collection to be
created by the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality and will be exhibited all
around the Department’s headquarters in Dublin.
Full competition details, entry forms and terms and conditions are available at
https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/campaigns/art
competition-2026/ and must be submitted by 12 noon on Friday, 23 October 2026.
ENDS
Notes for Editor
- The competition forms part of a wider programme of activities marking the 20th
anniversary of the Growing Up in Ireland study. - The competition is open to all children aged 4-15 and will be judged across three age
categories:
o Ages 4-7
o Ages 8-11
o Ages 12-15 - An Additional Needs Award will also be available within each age category.
- Shortlisted entries will also be displayed at the Growing Up in Ireland Annual
Conference which explores the idea of ‘Then, Now, Next’.
Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) is the national longitudinal study of children and young
people, a joint project of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE)
and the Central Statistics Office (CSO). Since 2006, the study has provided Government
with an evidence base to make informed policy decisions on a wide range of issues
based on data from children and young people living in Ireland.
Further information on Growing Up in Ireland can be found on the Growing Up in Ireland
website.
