Articulation Prize Success for Ella

This year, some of our Year 12 students entered the National Gallery’s prestigious Articulation Prize, a competition for sixth form students aimed to develop critical thinking and presentation skills by discussing art. Students are invited to each deliver a 10-minute presentation to an audience about a work of art, architecture or an artefact of their choice. Adjudicators then assess each presentation looking at content, structure, delivery and the speaker’s original approach and unique potential.

Schools are required to hold internal school heats to select one student to represent their school at regional heats or regional finals, which take place at museums and galleries across the country.

Sacred Heart ran its internal heat in January, where Aima, Pearl and Ella delivered their presentations to a judging panel of sixth form students, Art and English teachers. The presentations were very different in content and theme, but all of the students presented to an extremely high standard: Aima discussed the impact of AI through Kelly McKernan water colour drawings; Pearl explored how war is portrayed through the film 1912; and the winning presentation from Ella discussed 'Judith Beheading Holofernes' a painting by Renaissance artist Artemisia Gentileschi. Anyone involved with school in 2019 may remember that we were part of the National Gallery touring exhibition of this painting, and were fortunate enough to display 'Saint Catherine of Alexandria,' by Gentileschi in our school auditorium.

The regional heat was held at the Laing Art Gallery in late March, and Ella delivered her presentation again against six local schools from the Northeast. Her presentation was praised by adjudicator Dr George Vasey, curator and writer, for its use ‘of descriptive language and great use of storytelling’ and ‘the talk was paced brilliantly and delivered with real passion’. Ella was selected at the regional heat to go forward and represent the Northeast, and Sacred Heart in the Grand Final, at London’s National Gallery.

Unfortunately, cancelled trains on the morning of the trip to London meant that the Grand Final had to come to Sacred Heart - the training room in sixth form specifically - via zoom! After a few technical rehearsals, we managed to stream Ella’s presentation live to the Grand Final audience and adjudicators in London. Ella should be proud of herself and managed to adapt to the circumstances and last-minute change admirably!

Unfortunately, Ella did not achieve first place, but she received some excellent feedback on the structure and the passionate delivery of her presentation from the London adjudicator’s Sir Gabriele Finaldi, Director of National Gallery, and Ali Smith, author and playwright. It was a great experience to take part in, and Ella is happy to support the next group of Articulation Prize speakers...so watch this space!