Craft School: Yinka’s Challenge

In Partnership With

In collaboration with Yinka Ilori, the Crafts Council is launching a new national schools craft challenge

In Partnership With

The Colour Palace, a temporary pavilion by Yinka Ilori at Dulwich Picture Gallery for London Design Festival 2019. Photo courtesy the artist.jpg

The Craft School challenge is a nationwide competition to get primary and secondary school students to submit a craft project on one of three themes: play, storytelling, and empowerment.

The challenge has been set by Crafts Council trustee and multidisciplinary artist Yinka Ilori and will the second year will run from September 2022 to March 2023. It will encourage and nurture craft thinking and making and provide a moment to celebrate the brilliant craft creativity of a younger generation.

Who can take part?

Craft School: Yinka's Challenge is a free programme for education provisions and learners from KS1 to KS4. Learners can participate individually or as collaborative groups.

When will it take place?

From September 2022 to March 2023 participating schools will create against a brief designed and set by Yinka centring on play, storytelling, and empowerment. To support teachers and learners through the challenge the Crafts Council has developed digital resources, engaging video content and further specialist CPD sessions.

In spring 2023 the challenge will culminate in a prize-giving event at the Crafts Council Gallery in London. Winners from each key stage will be selected by an expert panel from the craft world. The panel will include experts from NSEAD, AccessArt and our Learning and Business Skills supporter Cox London.

Playland, Yinka Ilori, Pinterest for Cannes Film Festival, 2019
Love always wins, Yinka Ilori, Harrow Council, 2020. Photo: Andy Stagg

What will learners do?

Over the course of a minimum of 10 hours, working individually or in groups, we will be asking learners to draw on ‘craft thinking’. Using hand skills to explore materials, take risks and make three-dimensional forms in respond to one of three creative briefs:

Storytelling — Taking inspiration from Yinka Ilori and Pricegore’s Colour Palace, craft a model of a pavilion that celebrates your background or culture.
Play — Using Yinka Ilori’s Playland as inspiration create a model, using craft materials, of an amazing new space that encourages children to play together.
Empowerment — Taking inspiration from Yinka Ilori’s Restoration Station choose an everyday item and repair and redecorate it to represent who you are. The re-animated object should tell your story without the need for words.

How do I apply?

We are delighted to announce that Craft School: Yinka's Challenge will be running for academic year 2022/23. You can register your learning provision here.

What to submit

Schools can enter a maximum of five student entries. Students are welcome to work on their own or as part of a group of up to four students.

Entries must include four A4 sheets or two A3 sheets of work that contain:

Evidence of research into artist’s work, including Yinka Ilori, and diverse communities of making and makers — we will also accept a scan of the exercise from a student workbook or free research if more suitable.
Evidence of experimentation and development. This may take the form of photographs of practical making, test pieces and models towards the development of a final piece — maximum of three photos and a minimum of three test pieces showing two craft practices.
Written statement (100 words advised but variable by age group) or one minute video from the student on their final piece. This can include a description of their choice of concept, materials, and techniques.
One photograph of the whole final piece and up to two photographs that capture the detail of making.

Find out more

For more information on all upcoming programmes and events please join our Craft Educator Facebook group and refer to the FAQ document. We have also provided a list of downloadable resources.

If you have any further queries please email our Education Manager, Rebecca Goozee: r_goozee@craftscouncil.org.uk

Download resources

Yinka Ilori, Heart of Hale, Tottenham, 2021. Photo: John Sturrock

About Yinka Ilori

Yinka Ilori is a London-based multidisciplinary artist of a British-Nigerian heritage, who specializes in storytelling by fusing his British and Nigerian heritage to tell new stories in contemporary design. Humorous, provocative and fun, every project that he creates tells a story. Bringing Nigerian verbal traditional into playful conversation with contemporary design, Yinka Ilori’s work touches on various global themes that resonate with different audiences all over the world.

Learning and Business Skills supporter

Cox London are delighted to be this year’s Crafts Council’s Learning & Business Skills Supporters; this is the third year of our partnership with the Crafts Council, a true reflection of our ongoing commitment to helping support the future generations of craft. Cox London and the Crafts Council will work closely to help ignite a passion for craft amongst school children and young people as well as supporting teachers, craft makers and craft businesses.

I never underestimate the power of those teachers who introduced me to clay and plaster and showed me how to cut wood and weld metal. Each time I was taught another process I moved closer to the profession that would nourish me, both literally and mentally, for life.
Chris Cox, creative director

.Cox London
Access Art and The National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD)

Craft School: Yinka’s Challenge

Who can take part?

When will it take place?

What will learners do?

How do I apply?

What to submit

Find out more

Download resources

Read more

Yinka Ilori in conversation with his teacher

Young Craft Citizens visit the Cox London foundry

Yinka Ilori on his playground for London Design Festival

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