Keeping the Ladbroke area special​

Invitation to enter the Ladbroke Association art competition 2024

The Ladbroke Association is the conservation and amenity society for the Ladbroke Conservation Area (which is roughly bordered on the south by Holland Park Avenue, on the north by Westway, on the west by Clarendon Road and on the east by Portobello Road – see map.

It is a charity and one of our charitable objectives is to stimulate and promote public interest in, and care for, the beauty, history and character of the neighbourhood.

In pursuit of that objective we are organising an art competition to encourage the observation, representation and appreciation of the Ladbroke Conservation Area and its history through art. 

The competition is open to everyone and amateur artists are particularly welcome.  There will be a top cash prize of £1,000.

We are inviting entries to be submitted by 30 April. 

Or email artcomp@ladbrokeassociation.org to request entry form.

Entries must relate directly to the Ladbroke Conservation Area and depict some aspect of the area, such as buildings, features of interest and street scenes.  Entrants from outside the area are encouraged to visit and explore it, as we are looking for works based on personal observation.

Download this Introduction to the Ladbroke Area to read about some of the main features.

Rules and procedures

All matters relating to the competition are subject to these rules.

There are three age categories

Adults (18 years +)
Teenagers (12-17 years)
Children (5-11 years).

What works will be accepted?

  1. Paintings, drawings or collages which represent aspects of the Ladbroke Conservation Area.*
  2. Entries must be produced by hand only.
  3. Entries must be the original unaided work solely of the entrant.
  4. Entries must be two-dimensional in pencil, crayon or pastel, paint or mixed media, or collage, on paper, board or canvas.*
  5. Woodcuts, etchings, screen-prints or similar must be artist proof productions only.
  6. Artwork must not exceed A2 size (420mm x 594mm).
  7. Only one artwork will be accepted from any one entrant.
  8. Works must be created after 1 June 2023.

*Please Note: Photographic, computer-generated or digital images will not be accepted.

The Association reserves the right to decline any entry without giving a reason No correspondence will be entered into on any matter.

Procedure – There are four stages to the Competition: 

  1. Stage 1 – Entry  – Download and complete an entry form here, filling in your personal and contact details.  When your artwork is finished and you are ready to submit it to the competition, photograph the artwork so that it can be submitted digitally for the 1st stage of judging. The photograph must be a JPEG format, approximately 1.0Mb in size.  Then send the photograph together with a copy of the entry form to artcomp@ladbrokeassociation.org.

Local schools submitting entries on behalf of a number of their pupils should email artcomp@ladbrokeassociation.org for a special application form.

  1. Stage 2 – First stage of Judging – Entries will initially be assessed based upon the submitted photos by the panel of judges consisting of two established local artists and two members of the Ladbroke Association Committee. The judges will select entries to go forward to the final judging, and all entrants will be notified of their decision.
  2. Stage 3 – Final Judging – If your entry is selected to go forward, you will be notified of the venue and times to bring the physical artwork in so that it can be judged by the panel in person.

    Paper works must be mounted on board, foam board or other rigid material to enable hanging. Paintings on canvas must use D rings strung with string or wire for hanging. 

    Every entry must be clearly identified on the back with the title of the work together with the artist’s name and contact details (email/address and phone). 

    Entries will be judged in the Judges’ absolute discretion taking into account artistic merit; quality of presentation; originality; choice and treatment of subject matter; and their relationship with, appreciation of and relevance to the Ladbroke Conservation Area.

    The Judges’ and the Association’s decisions on all matters are final. The Association makes no commitment to award any prize or prizes, especially if in their absolute discretion the Judges so decide.

  3. Stage 4 – Exhibition and Prizes – An exhibition of all entries in the final judging round will be mounted in a gallery setting to be announced (keep an eye on the website).  This exhibition will be open to the public and will last for a minimum of three days. We expect a prize-giving ceremony to be held on the first day of the exhibition.

There will be prizes for entries in all age categories

Adults: £1,000, £500, £250 for the three best entries.
Teenagers: Vouchers for art materials or books [amounts to be decided, but probably £200, £100, £50]
Children: Vouchers or artists’ materials for the five best entries.

At the conclusion of the exhibition, the artwork will be available for collection, and must be collected at times to be specified on the website.  Any work not so collected may be disposed of as the Association sees fit.

N.B. Artists retain all their rights in their work.  However, it is a pre-condition of entry that the Ladbroke Association may at any time and in any manner reproduce prize-winning works free of charge.

Artists may attach a price to their works at the exhibition, but sales and transactions are strictly between the artist and prospective purchasers and will not involve the Ladbroke Association.

Read the Ladbroke Association’s privacy policy here.