Staff Category: Share Your Creativity

New for 2026, the YouCreate Competition now includes a dedicated category for school and college staff. We know that creativity does not stop at the classroom door, and this category is your chance to celebrate the creative talents of the teachers, technicians, and support staff who inspire students every day.

Whether you are an art teacher, teaching assistant, technician, librarian, or member of support staff, we invite you to take part and showcase your own creative voice.

What is the theme?
This year’s theme is Weird and we want to see your interpretation of what weird means to you. It could be playful, surreal, humorous, unusual, imaginative, or deeply personal. Perhaps it celebrates individuality, challenges expectations, or simply explores the joy of creative expression.

Your entry could be anything from:

  • A piece of artwork or illustration
  • Photography or digital media
  • Fashion or textiles
  • Short film or animation
  • Creative writing or poetry
  • Music or sound work

There are no limits on how you interpret the theme. The only rule is to embrace creativity and originality.

Who can enter?
The staff category is open to:

  • Teachers
  • Teaching assistants
  • Technicians
  • Pastoral and support staff
  • Any staff member working in a school or college that teaches students aged 11–18 (Years 7–13 or FE equivalent)

Your institution must teach students born between 01 September 2007 and 31 August 2014.

Why take part?
Entering the competition is a great way to:

  • Celebrate creativity within your school or college community
  • Model creative practice for your students
  • Take part in a regional creative initiative with the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) and the Kent & Medway Collaborative Outreach Programme (KaMCOP)
  • Share your work with a wider audience

Staff prizes
Winning staff entries will receive art supplies for their school or college, helping to support and inspire creativity among future students.

In addition, winning work will be exhibited at the University for the Creative Arts in Summer 2026, alongside outstanding student submissions from across the UK.

Encourage your students too
While entering yourself, you may also wish to encourage your students to take part. The competition also includes categories for:

  • Years 7–10
  • Years 11–13 and FE equivalent

This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to express themselves creatively and have their work recognised by UCA.

Key information

  • Theme: Weird
  • Competition deadline: 31 May 2026
  • Exhibition: Summer 2026 at the University for the Creative Arts

Get involved
We would love to see entries from staff across schools and colleges in Kent and Medway and beyond. Whether you create regularly or are returning to creativity after a break, this is your opportunity to share your imagination and celebrate what makes your creativity unique.

If you have any questions about the YouCreate Competition, please contact: outreach@uca.ac.uk