Who inspires you? What stories have shaped our community? How can we build a better future together?
Children and young people across Gloucestershire are invited to take part in a poetry and art competition celebrating Black History Month which takes place in October 2026.
Black History Month is a celebration of the achievements, stories and experiences of Black and Brown people throughout history and today. It encourages us to learn from the past, recognise contributions that have shaped our communities, and work towards a more inclusive future. Think about people like Mary Seacole, Usain Bolt, President Barack Obama and Naga Munchetty, or perhaps leaders and people you admire from your own community.
This year’s Black History Month theme is: Dig deeper, look closer, think bigger
The theme encourages us to move beyond assumptions, be curious about the stories of others, and better understand the experiences of Black and Brown people in our communities and throughout history. Through art and creative writing, young people are invited to explore these stories and share their own perspectives.
Who can enter?
The competition is open to children and young people aged 7 to 18. Prizes will be awarded in both the art and poetry/creative writing categories.
- Ages 7-11: Think deeper about a Black or Brown individual in your community and write a poem or create a piece of art about their experience. Prizes: First prize £20 voucher, second prize £15, third prize £10.
- Ages 12-15: Look closer at the history of a Black or Brown individual or group of people and write a poem or create a piece of art about their experience. First prize: £30 voucher, second prize £25, third prize £20.
- Ages 16-18: Dig deeper, look closer, think bigger. What does this mean for our community? Represent your ideas through art or poetry. First prize: £40 voucher, second prize £35, third prize £30.
You can submit:
- A poem or piece of creative writing, max 500 words.
- A drawing, painting, collage or other artwork
We are looking for thoughtful, creative and original responses to the competition theme.
While the use of AI tools is permitted, entrants must declare whether AI has been used and explain how it has contributed to the final piece. Judges will take this into account when assessing entries.
How to enter
Complete the form below. Artwork should be submitted as a photograph or scanned image. Written entries should be attached as a Word document or PDF.
Closing date: Midnight on Friday 23 October 2026
Shortlisted entries will be reviewed by members of the Racial Justice Action Group, with final judging supported by education specialists.
Winners will be notified during the week beginning 9 November 2026.
Need some inspiration?
You might choose to explore:
- Someone who inspires you in your local community
- An important Black or Brown figure from history
- A group of people whose story deserves greater recognition
- What a fairer and more inclusive community could look like
- What “Dig deeper, look closer, think bigger” means to you
We look forward to seeing your creativity, imagination and ideas as we celebrate Black History Month 2026 together.
Terms and conditions
The competition is open to children and young people aged 7-18 living, attending school or worshipping within Gloucestershire.
Entries must be received by midnight on Friday 23 October 2026. Late entries cannot be considered.
Entrants may submit either, one piece of artwork; or, one piece of poetry; or; both artwork and poetry.
Entries must relate to the Black History Month 2026 theme: “Dig deeper, look closer, think bigger”and follow the age-category guidelines.
Artwork may be submitted as a photograph or scanned image. Written entries should be submitted in a commonly used digital format such as Word or PDF.
Parents, carers or teachers may assist with submission, but the creative work must be the entrant’s own.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools is permitted, provided entrants clearly state whether AI has been used and describe the extent of its use. Judges will take this into account when assessing entries.
By entering, participants confirm that their work is original and does not infringe the copyright of any other person.
Winners will be selected by a judging panel appointed by the Racial Justice Action Group (RJAG). The judges’ decision is final.
Prize vouchers will be awarded to first, second and third place entries in each age group and category.
The Diocese of Gloucester and RJAG reserve the right to publish, display, reproduce and promote submitted entries, with credit given to the creator wherever reasonably possible. We expect to feature the winning entries in an exhibition.
Personal information provided as part of the competition will be used only for administering the competition and contacting winners, unless additional permission is obtained.
The organisers reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions or cancel the competition if circumstances beyond their control make this necessary.
Entry into the competition constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions.
Privacy notice
The Diocese of Gloucester and the Racial Justice Action Group (RJAG) will collect and use the personal information provided with competition entries to administer the Black History Month 2026 Poetry and Art Competition, contact entrants and parents/carers where necessary, and notify winners.
We will collect only the information needed to run the competition, such as the entrant’s name, age, contact details and competition entry.
Entries may be shared with members of the judging panel for the purpose of judging the competition. Winning and shortlisted entries may be displayed, published or promoted by the Diocese of Gloucester, together with the entrant’s first name and age.
Personal information will be kept securely and retained only for as long as necessary to administer the competition and any related publicity.
By submitting an entry, entrants and their parents/carers confirm that they have read and understood this privacy notice.
For information about how the Diocese of Gloucester handles personal data, please refer to the Diocese of Gloucester’s full Privacy Notice.
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