Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust (RBPT) was delighted to display a vibrant exhibition at The Station’s Artisan Gallery, showcasing artwork created by pupils from Trinity Academy and St Mary’s RC Primary School.

The display formed part of RBPT’s ongoing contribution to Richmond’s Town of Culture bid, with a focus on engaging younger members of the community and amplifying their voices. Over recent weeks, representatives from RBPT and The Station, working as part of the Town of Culture Steering Group, have visited local primary schools to ask pupils a simple but powerful question: what do you love about Richmond, and what would you like to see in its future?

The response was overwhelming. Pupils submitted an array of imaginative drawings, colourful artwork, and thoughtful pieces of poetry and prose, all reflecting their connection to the town. A selection of this work was then displayed in the Artisan Gallery, offering visitors a chance to experience Richmond through the eyes of its youngest residents.

Prizes have been awarded for standout entries, including book tokens for the winning schools courtesy of Richmond Town Council, and cinema tickets generously provided by The Station Cinema.

The winning entry from Vivien King from Trinity Academy stood out for its creativity and heartfelt portrayal of Richmond. Her poem combined vivid imagination, and thoughtful details to capture the town’s unique character and sense of community.

Gemma Lord, CEO of Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust, said, “It has been incredibly inspiring to see the creativity and enthusiasm from Richmond’s young people. Their artwork captures not only what makes this town special, but also their hopes for its future. Engaging with younger generations is vital to the success of the Town of Culture bid, and this project has shown just how much they have to say.”

Sarah Iveson, Events and Gallery Manager at RBPT, was tasked with choosing the winner. She said “It was wonderful to see the amount of creativity and effort the children put into their work, picking a winner was incredibly difficult. In the end, I chose Vivian’s because it really encapsulated the heart of our town, and represented a lot of what we value here at the Trust.”

The exhibition marked a meaningful contribution by Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust to Richmond’s Town of Culture bid, highlighting the vital role young people play in shaping Richmond’s cultural future.