RTÉ This Is Art!: The Artist Statement Matters Too

Editorial overview

RTÉ This Is Art! treats the explanation of an artwork as part of the work’s public life. Entrants upload an image of an original piece, provide verification and write a short artist statement describing the process and what the work represents. The statement cannot rescue an unresolved image, but it can show that the choices belong to the young artist rather than to an adult, a copied character or an AI tool.

The competition is open to young people of all abilities living anywhere on the island of Ireland, and selected entries become part of a public digital gallery. That breadth makes personal specificity valuable. A theme can be interpreted through observation, memory, fantasy or emotion, but official rules require original work and exclude copied, traced, plagiarised or AI-generated entries. CompeteMap’s view is that students should make first and explain from real process notes. The strongest statement names a decision or discovery; it does not imitate museum language. Families should also review permissions carefully because the submission includes an image of the artwork and a verification photograph.

Quick Facts

Use the RTÉ This Is Art! competition page for the live theme and submission window.

This guide was checked on 20 October 2026.

Make the theme personal

List several interpretations before choosing one. A broad theme becomes stronger when attached to a remembered place, repeated family object, local environment or invented world with specific rules. Avoid relying on well-known characters or brand imagery; current rules require entrants to own the rights to what appears in the work.

Keep evidence of the process

Save sketches, colour tests and progress photographs. They help the student write honestly and can support originality if questions arise. The final verification photograph should follow the current instructions and show the entrant with the physical work clearly.

Write a useful artist statement

A simple structure is enough:

1. Name the idea or experience behind the work.
2. Explain one material or compositional choice.
3. Describe what changed during making.
4. Say what the viewer should notice or consider.

Avoid claims about changing the world or “raising awareness” unless the work makes that purpose concrete. Specific language is more convincing than grand language.

Related competitions on CompeteMap

• Texaco Children’s Art Competition for an all-Ireland physical-art submission.
• Junk Kouture Ireland for students who want a longer construction and performance project.
• Ireland’s Young Filmmaker of the Year for moving-image storytellers.

Key Takeaways

• The artwork, verification image and artist statement all need careful preparation.
• Use a personal interpretation rather than illustrating the theme phrase generically.
• Keep process evidence and respect originality and copyright rules.
• Write the statement from actual decisions made during the work.

Sources checked

• https://thisisart.elsif.io/the-rules
• https://artsineducation.ie/en/2025/10/30/opportunity-for-schools-this-is-art-2025-competition-now-open/