The Lowry launches writing competition for Greater Manchester children aged 8-11

The Lowry has launched a new annual writing competition for Greater Manchester children aged 8-11, aimed at helping them become more creative and confident.

The Lowry’s Creative Writing Challenge is open to children aged 8-11 (Key Stage 2) from across Salford and Greater Manchester and entries close on midday Friday 4th November.

Children can draw on all aspects of writing for performance, including poetry, spoken word, creative writing, and scriptwriting.

If you would like to enter, please click here.

Judges include writer and actress Samantha Giles, performance writer and spoken word activist Emma Rogerson, playwright Simon Stephens, poet Tony Walsh and screenwriter and children’s author Frank Cottrell-Boyce.

The Lowry’s Creative Writing Challenge will be delivered in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, an independent charity dedicated to raising literacy levels across the UK.

Mike Leyland, Programme Manager at the National Literacy Trust, said: “We are delighted to partner with The Lowry on the Creative Writing Challenge. We know from our own research that writing helps children to express themselves with 1 in 2 children saying they write to be creative. We hope this exciting competition will inspire children across Salford and Greater Manchester with their writing and reading, supporting them to develop the literacy skills they need to succeed in life.”

A celebration prize-giving event will be held on Wednesday 7^th December in The Lowry’s Quays Theatre, with winning entries being performed on stage either by the children who wrote them, or by someone else on their behalf.

Prizes include:

• A chance to perform on The Lowry’s Quays Theatre Stage on 7 December 2022
• Up to £50 of book tokens
• A professional illustration of your creative writing for you to keep
• Tickets to a show at The Lowry for the winners and their friends or family

The competition has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Beryl Jones, who along with her husband Trevor is a Gold Patron of The Lowry.

Speaking to I LOVE MCR, Beryl said:“I am extremely excited for the launch of The Lowry’s first creative writing challenge for children of primary age, which will become part of the invaluable Learning & Engagement programme at the venue.

“The team at The Lowry have worked incredibly hard to help bring this concept – a dream of mine – to life so it is with eager anticipation and grateful thanks that I will await this new challenge to find future writing talent.”

One of the judges, Carnegie Medal winning children’s novelist Frank Cottrell-Boyce said: “If we’ve learnt one thing from the last few years it’s the importance of learning to be happy.  The beginning of creativity is noticing things.  The more things you notice the happier and more creative you become.  So a creative writing competition is a great way to encourage real creativity – away from the demands of the curriculum.  A great opportunity that writing and reading are fun!”

 Julia Fawcett OBE, Chief Executive of The Lowry, said: “At the heart of what we do is a commitment to giving back to the communities and people around us, particularly with a view to improving the lives of children and young people of Salford through our award-winning Learning & Engagement programme.

“The post-pandemic need for support in education is greater than ever, with improving literacy being a high priority. 

“As such, anything further we can do to raise aspirations, encourage creativity and give confidence to children and young people is incredibly important.

“We would like to thank Beryl for her support and generosity, and our wonderful panel of judges who have so kindly agreed to be involved.”

The Lowry have also set up a support scheme available to all primary schools across Salford, with five schools set to receive a package of wraparound activity including creative writing workshops delivered by a professional artist.

The Lowry has also developed an extensive suite of free downloadable lesson plans for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6.

The Lowry Creative Writing Challenge will build on the success of The Copley Prize, an annual art competition for primary aged children. Kindly supported by Alison and Noel Copley, the contest sees the winning piece of artwork displayed in The Lowry’s galleries alongside the work of LS Lowry.

For more information on the competition, please click here.