Camden Schools Art Biennale

About

Born July 2024, the Camden Schools Art Biennale is a celebration of young artistic achievement in the borough, showcasing art from every school and every key stage of learning: Early years foundation stage (EYFS), Primary, Secondary, A-Level, Hospital and Special Education.

A partnership project by Camden Council, Central Saint Martins and Camden Learning, with the generous support of John Lyon’s Charity, The King’s Cross Group, Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne and Camden STEAM.

Biennale 2024

The launch edition was held at Central Saint Martins Lethaby and Window Galleries 11-17 July 2024. The first exhibition featured hundreds of artworks from all 53 schools in the borough and interactive events programme for children, young people, families and art teachers.

In Spring 2025 the Biennale was celebrated in a retrospective on outdoor artboards and poster benches around the King's Cross Estate; along with a series of creative workshops for 7-12 year-olds and their families.

Vision and aims

• To support young artists.
• To strengthen and support art teaching in Camden schools and beyond.
• To enhance the status of the subject of art and the arts curriculum.
• To showcase Camden as a centre of arts in the UK.
• To bring a wide audience to students' work within the borough - at a time when art and design provision face a number of threats within the curriculum.
• To show the potential for careers in art, design and creative practice, through exposure to the creative community around CSM and the network of creative practitioners and artists in the area.
• To build links between schools, arts organisations and businesses.
• To celebrate the diversity and creativity of Camden’s young people including those with special educational needs and those from underserved backgrounds.