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Daphne du Maurier

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The Awards for Young Writers and Artists 2021 competition launches today – 11th January 2021

This year's theme is Stepping Through a Door.  Fowey Festival invites children and young people to create their own original story, poem, or picture and enter their competition to become the Fowey Festival Young Writer or Young Artist of the Year, 2021.




In the novel, Jamaica Inn Daphne Du Maurier wrote 'The old life lay behind- the dear familiar farm and the shining Helford waters. Before her lay the future'. The challenge for 2021 is to produce an original picture, poem or short story on the theme of Stepping Through a Door.  It can be just an ordinary door or one that leads to the future, the past or an imaginary world where anything can happen.

The competition is open to all children and young people living in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly aged 4 to 16 years on 31st August 2021. Please note that this year stories can be up to 500 words.

Pictures, poems and stories can be entered independently or by schools where children and young people are working at home or in school. It must be a student or child's own work, whether it's a step into a different world, a different time …… Whatever you want to say, Fowey Festival would love to hear from you!


Thanks to Fowey Festival's generous sponsors, there is no entry fee.


Key dates:

Launch date – Monday 11th January 2021

Final entry date – Friday 18th June 2021

Shortlist published on the Fowey Festival website week beginning 12th July 2021

Awards presentation event – September 2021

The Awards for Young Writers and Artists are an important and established component of the Festival.
Good luck from all the Festival team!


If you have any questions relating to the awards, please email angela@foweyfestival.com

More information is available on the Fowey Festival website: https://www.foweyfestival.com


Fowey Festival extends heartfelt thanks to:

•      Helen Williams for providing the wonderful and inspirational drawing 'The Door.'


•      To all schools, teachers and families for their continuing support


•      To the generosity of the sponsors: the Atishoo Gallery in Charlestown, the Fowey River Gallery, The Arts        Society, Bodmin, Great Art and Waterstones


•      To all the judging panels for their time and expertise.


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