My ARTiculation Experience

This February, I took part in the ARTiculation public speaking competition, in which I spoke about a piece I love of Francis Bacon’s – Seated Figure, painted in 1961. I chose this particular artist, as I had seen the artwork first-hand in the Tate Britain and it completely enthralled me, which therefore made me excited to talk about it! 

Initially, I was nervous about taking part, however I chose to stick with it, as I had seen students in previous years take part and gain a great experience. The art department were also fantastic at advertising this event and were extremely supportive, which helped build my confidence and desire to join in. 

Through taking part, I have been awarded the Kenneth Clark Travel Award, including a cheque of £50 to visit an art exhibition of my choice. I’ve chosen to visit the upcoming Manga exhibition at the British Museum, which will be a wonderful way to immerse myself in a culture and art form that I find fascinating. 

My experience with ARTiculation was amazing; it taught me confidence, public speaking skills, to research in depth, and to explore my personal feelings on art. Having this on my CV will be sure to stick out! No matter the stage you achieve in the competition, getting involved is definitely worth it – the feeling of getting up to speak about something you love is incredible. 

Louisa Martin (Year 12)