Minister Foley Launches National Children's Art Competition to Celebrate 20 Years of Growing Up in Ireland
Children aged 4-15 can enter a national art competition on an Ireland of the Future. Entries close at 12 noon on Friday, 23 October.
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley has launched a national children's art competition, inviting young artists across Ireland to share their vision of an "Ireland of the Future". The competition is open to children aged 4-15 and marks 20 years of the Growing Up in Ireland study.
The competition encourages children to create artworks that capture their hopes, dreams and ideas for the Ireland they would like to see in the years ahead. It forms part of celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of Growing Up in Ireland (GUI), the national study that has followed the lives and experiences of children and young people across Ireland for two decades.
Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality:
anniversary, I am pleased to invite children across Ireland to share their vision for the future through art.
I am looking forward to seeing the wonderful artwork, imagination and fresh perspectives that children across the country will bring to this competition."
Entries will be judged across three age categories: 4-7, 8-11 and 12-15. An Additional Needs Award will also be available within each age category.
The overall winning artwork will form part of a new permanent art collection to be created by the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality. It will be exhibited in the Department's headquarters in Dublin. Shortlisted entries will also be displayed at the Growing Up in Ireland Annual Conference, which explores the idea of "Then, Now, Next".
Full competition details, entry forms and terms and conditions are available on the gov.ie competition page. Entries must be submitted by 12 noon on Friday, 23 October 2026.
Growing Up in Ireland is the national longitudinal study of children and young people, a joint project of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the Central Statistics Office. Since 2006, the study has provided Government with an evidence base to make informed policy decisions on a wide range of issues.
