The 2020 search to find Cumbria’s best young artists has begun.

Leading Cumbrian arts organisation Eden Arts are once again bringing their Young Cumbrian Artist of the Year exhibition and awards to the University of Cumbria. The project, which has run in parallel to the C-Art Cumbrian Artist of the Year, aims to showcase the talents of artists aged 15-24.

The sixth edition of the popular competition aimed at young people who live, study, work in or are from Cumbria is now welcoming entries.

The current holder of the Young Cumbrian Artist of the Year title is Duddon Valley artist and recent University of Cumbria graduate Poppy Cookson.

Poppy, 22, was unveiled as the 2019 winner at a special preview of an exhibition of artists’ work that was held at the university’s Vallum Gallery, situated at its Institute of the Arts in Brampton Road, Carlisle.

The winner of the 2020 title will receive the opportunity of an artist residency at the Old Fire Station in Penrith as part of the Eden Arts Artist Spare Room scheme, as well as a cash prize.

Work in any medium is accepted including digital media, animation, video, creative writing, performance art, photography, painting, sculpture and installations. Previous winners have included animator Bronny Salter and contemporary artist Adam Story.

Eden Arts’ Director Adrian Lochhead said: “The purpose of the award is to recognise the contemporary and the aspiring and new, it is not a ‘best picture’ award, it is about encouraging new ways of thinking and doing in the arts, it is about social impact, about artists and art having relevance beyond the gallery.

“We are interested in how young people react creatively to things like climate change, borders, diversity, poverty, land use, how we live....”.

Shortlisted 2020 entrants will be invited to exhibit at the Vallum Gallery from March 2-20, 2020. Previous exhibitions have attracted in excess of 800 visitors.

Laura Baxter, wildlife media course leader and curator at the university’s Vallum Gallery, said: “Young Cumbrian Artist of the Year is the only open arts competition in the region designed to support and encourage young people studying the arts or at the start of their creative careers.

“It’s a great opportunity to feature in an online showcase, a professional gallery exhibition, plus win a range of prizes. Working at the University of Cumbria, I know there’s lots of artistic talent here, so we look forward to lots of people entering their work.”

The closing date for entries is February 2, 2020.

For full details of the competition, and how to enter, visit https://www.edenarts.co.uk/projects/ycaoty