Wonderfully Surreal

Established in 2023, The Wonderfully Surreal exhibition and awards takes place in alternating years with the Farley Arts Trust Awards and offers another opportunity for students studying visual arts at GCSE, A-Levels and Level 3 Creative & Applied Pathways to have their work celebrated and included in a public art exhibition inspired by the Trusts’ Surrealist legacy.

Who are the Wonderfully Surreal Awards for?

The aim of the Wonderfully Surreal Awards is to celebrate and raise awareness of the creative achievements of young people in East Sussex schools and colleges. The resulting exhibition of art works and the Awards ceremony promote wider recognition of the importance and value of the creative work done by young people within their schools and give students the opportunity to take their work beyond the classroom and out into the wider community.

Schools with pupils taking Art at GCSE and/or A LEVEL and/or Post‑16 Level 3 Creative & Applied Pathways are invited to submit work by their students that is inspired by the life and work of the famous artist and photographer Lee Miller.  A comprehensive education pack with three iconic photographics has been sent to all schools to inspire their students. If you are a school and have not received an education pack, please email Education Manager Sam Martin at (insert email).

Applications are currently closed.  The next Wonderfully Surreal Awards will take place in 2027. Registration will open in May 2027. Free to apply.

Application Process and Judging

• Following submission through our online application form, a panel of judges including Lee Miller’s son, Antony Penrose, and other Trustees (link to about us page) will consider the submissions. 
• Pupils’ own photographs of their work must be submitted as high-resolution photographs.  See guidance information here (link to pdf)
• The original work can be in any medium including painting, drawing, print-making, photography, digital or sculpture.  All artworks and photographs must be the pupils’ own work and authenticated and submitted by their teacher. No work created in AI will be considered. 
• Only one work may be submitted per pupil and up to 20 entries per school.
• Application is free for the Wonderfully Surreal Awards.
• 15 winning entries will be selected on imagination, originality, skill and how well each piece responds to the brief. 
• The Trust will then make large-scale, framed photographs of the winning entries which will be exhibited alongside selected original work at a Sussex based art gallery or arts centre.

For further information or guidance on applying for Wonderfully Surreal Awards please contact Education Advisor Sam Martin. (Link to email address.)

Awards Guidance 

 Awards

The Wonderfully Surreal Awards and Exhibition has previously been held at The Depot Gallery in Lewes and the Atrium Gallery at the Marine Workshops in Newhaven (insert links to these venue websites). Following the Awards ceremony, the artwork remains on public display.

At the exhibition a number of Awards will be presented to students including:

The Sylvia Tidy Award (link to a page about Sylvia Tidy on a separate legacies page)which is presented to students who have demonstrated awareness of current issues of personal or community concern.

Previous Awards Catalogues

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