King Lear Prizes

The National Creative Arts Competition for Over 60s

 
 

2023 Coronation Edition

2023 Coronation Edition

Register your interest: Sign up to take part in the King Lear Prizes

Submit your work: Complete our online form when you have completed your entry

Enter together as a Group or Club: Register your group to win group prizes

At a Glance

  • Categories: Art, Poetry, Short Story

  • Separate categories for beginners and experienced amateurs

  • Over £3,000 of cash prizes for winners and shortlistees, and certificates for Highly Commended entries

  • £5 per entry, to cover costs

  • Enter online or by post

  • Deadline: Friday 14th July 2023

New this year

  • King’s Coronation themed works encouraged (but not required)

  • Group prizes (announcement coming soon!)

  • New ways to get feedback on your work (announcement coming soon!)

  • Anthology of the best works sent to Buckingham Palace for the King and Queen

As featured in…

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What do our participants say?

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Testimonials
Susan’s story

“I’ve produced a piece during lockdown, thanks to the jet propulsion of yours, that’s been worrying me for the last 20 years.”

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Ian’s story

“I get so carried away with the painting that I lose track of the time. My wife often has to come and stop me around midnight!”

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Bryan’s story

“I always have ideas and put down bits of ideas here and there on my laptop. Because of your deadline, I've finished some.”

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Chrissie’s story

“It has been wonderful to focus on a project, this one aimed at over seventies couldn’t have been better...Thank you again for turning isolation into something positive.”

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Mike’s story

“It’s not about winning, it’s about painting again. Thanks for the kick up the ****, spurred me on.”

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Rose’s story

“Without your Lear Prize I would never have done it, since in my seventy three years of life I never had the urge to write stories before. Thanks for all your time and effort.”

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Peter’s story

“I thought you might like to know that the prizes have proved to be hugely motivational for me….It has helped me emerge from a trough of despond, and a very difficult time of severe health problems.”

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Paddy’s story

“It gave me an extra incentive to finish it in order to enter, plus it helped take my mind off things during solitary lockdown.”

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June’s story

“I thought why not write a story and off I went, an idea came to me one night and two weeks later it was off to you... Thank you for putting me on this path, I’m loving it!”

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Gyles Brandreth, writer, broadcaster and Judge for the King Lear Prizes 2021 said,

“Whether you are a keen amateur, picking up again after many years, or even if you are dabbling in a new hobby for the first time, the King Lear Prizes should be just the prod you need to get going.”

“As we’ve known all along: when it comes to creativity, age doesn’t matter a jot!”