The Roland Manuel Memorial Prize 2025
The first line you make on a page can embody your spirit and intention
A prize, open to all, for a sketch.
The name of the Prize is a reference to the idea that while you can work up a piece, and polish it, somehow the first lines you make on the paper always embody your spirit and your intention.
The prize, awarded in conjunction with the Blake Cottage Trust, is in memory of Roland Bonham Manuel whose private sketches and notes embody the vitality and freedom of the imagination.
William Blake's notebook is held in the British Library and is full of sketches and ideas serving as sources for his later work.
We are looking for a piece, created traditionally not digitally, which embodies the freedom and self expression of a private sketch book. We want a piece that is not highly polished and finished, but free and expressive. This Prize is open to everyone - if you loved Art at school or college, but work and family took you in a different direction, we'd love to encourage you to take this chance to pick up that pencil again.
Sketches can be in any traditional medium, in colour, line or tonal (as you prefer) and on paper. Entries must be submitted in the form of an unfiltered photograph taken in good light, in a setting of your choice. We'd love to see your choice drawing tools included in the photograph too, but this is optional. Digital art will not be considered; in this age of screens and digital manipulation, we are keen to use this prize to celebrate what is real and tangible, and to appreciate the different qualities of different traditional drawing materials.
Whilst entry and shortlisting is online we would hope that some of our short-listed sketches can be exhibited near the location of Blake's Cottage in Felpham where William Blake lived.
• [ ] Free to enter
• [ ] First Line RoM Prize £700
• [ ] Bognor Schools
Student sketch Prize
£200
sponsored by the Jim Brooks Family Trust
Rules: All entries should be submitted as JPEG's via the entry form or by emailing Blakefestival@gmail.com
From individuals who if short-listed will provide a valid name, address, email and age if under 18 as of 22/9/2025.
Student First Line Prize
is only open to 12-17 year olds who attend schools or live in the Bognor Regis area postcodes PO21 & PO22 - sponsored by the Jim Brookes Family Trust
Deadline for Entries
30 July 2025
