National arts programme announces winners

Art Bytes, a national art and EdTech programme for schools across the country, has announced the winners of its 2026 arts competition.

LIVERPOOL, MERSEYSIDE, UNITED KINGDOM, October 20, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Majkl Morava from Lynnfield Primary School in the North East was crowned national primary winner, and Chance Enane from Northampton School for Boys in the East Midlands took the national secondary title, at a ceremony that took place across eight prestigious cultural venues and was live streamed to audiences across the country.

Praising the work of Chance Enane, Art Bytes’ judges said: “The composition is very strong; bold, confident lines which look like they’ve been drawn straight on the page, without any pencil guides. We like the hustle and bustle that it conveys – it is such a complex picture.”

Of Majkl Morava’s work, the judges said: “A lot of thought has gone into it; Majkl has clearly enjoyed the experience, and that's how art should be. The contrast between the textures is fantastic. It's collage, but it's also a painting – it’s a joy!”

Primary school winner, Majkl, said: “I am really happy to have won - I am feeling all the emotions! I have never won anything before; it builds my confidence so much. I am going to go to the gallery to show my new carers my art, too.”

Secondary school winner, Chance, said: “I never anticipated my art getting this far, I never expected this! It’s a great programme, because all students are given the opportunity they need to thrive and enjoy art.”

More than 9,205 students from 554 schools have entered the competition to date and, as more schools recognise the boost it gives to students, the number of entries has doubled every year since its launch in 2022 - with more than 200 schools expected to participate in 2027.

Art Bytes is open to all schools in England, for Year 5 and Year 9 pupils, and has a national voting system in place to appoint winners in each school. Regional and national winners are chosen by a judging panel that includes representatives from the educational sector, professional artists, and the National Society of Education in Art and Design (NSEAD).

Independent research by Liverpool Hope University has validated the programme’s ability to nurture talent, raise ambition, and develop confidence and cultural capital among young people.

Participation in Art Bytes also helps develop young people’s creativity - a skill that studies suggest will be increasingly important as the adoption of AI in the workplace places a higher premium on creative thinking.

Art Bytes is unique in its democratic approach: while competition winners are selected by a panel of respected arts professionals and a public vote, every participating child’s artwork can be viewed online and in augmented reality, ensuring every pupil gets their work seen.

Lucy Byrne, Managing Director of dot-art and Programme Director of Art Bytes, said: “The standard of work this year has been extraordinary. Seeing young people’s faces as their names are called out, knowing the journey they have been on, is exactly why we do this. Every child who took part this year should be enormously proud. Art Bytes exists to show them that creativity matters and that their ideas have value.”

Majkl’s teacher at Lynnfield Primary School in Hartlepool, Carolyn, said: “It was such a special moment watching Majkl receive the news that he had become National winner. We couldn't be prouder of all our students and seeing their work exhibited in a gallery was wonderful. We feel very lucky to have been part of Art Bytes 2026.”

Registration for Art Bytes is open annually from July-December. Register your school here: https://artbytes.co.uk/registration/

Watch: hear from students themselves about how Art Bytes has positively impacted their education, confidence and creativity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC6ZOcUXQzU

ENDS

About Art Bytes

Art Bytes is a national art and EdTech programme for year 5 and year 9 students in all educational settings, combining an inter-school art competition with a bespoke, immersive virtual gallery and in-person Celebration Events in cultural venues across England. It is based on 13 years’ experience in the North West and is proven to nurture talent, raise ambition and develop confidence and cultural capital, as well as support mental health and help develop vital skills for future employment. Art Bytes gives young participants the opportunity to see their art exhibited online and engage with new technology from the safety and convenience of their own home or school and well as allowing them to see galleries and museums as places “for them” and encourage future cultural engagement.

After a shortlisting panel and an online public vote, the winning artist from each school sees their work displayed in our virtual gallery. Art Bytes culminates every June with a Celebration Event at a high-profile cultural venue in each of the nine regions of England, which is also available to schools to live stream or play back in the classroom or assembly. National and regional winners are announced, certificates and prizes are presented, and the virtual gallery goes live.

The competition is open to Year 5 and Year 9 students in all educational settings.

See: https://artbytes.co.uk/

Jenny Morris
Morris Tate on behalf of Art Bytes
+44 7866 361936
jenny@morristate.co.uk

Art Bytes - whose creative journey will you bring to life?