Five Students Shine in Youlou Arts Foundation’s 2025 Secondary School Art Competition

A photograph of the winning piecies from the Youlou Arts Foundation competition. Photographs of the pieces were provided by the Youlou Arts Foundation.

By R. Butcher. Updated 4:51 p.m., Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Youlou Arts Foundation has announced the winners of its 2025 Secondary School Art Competition, themed “Home,” with five students from across St. Vincent and the Grenadines receiving top prizes for their creativity and originality.

The competition, launched in February, invited secondary school students to create artworks based on the theme. Schools that participated included St. Martin’s Secondary, St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua, Thomas Saunders Secondary, St. Clair Dacon, Girls’ High School, Bethel High School, and Georgetown Secondary.

This year’s first prize of $500 was awarded to Raynique Gumbs of Thomas Saunders Secondary for “The Place I Yearn For.” The second prize of $400 went to Kody Froget of St. Martin’s Secondary for “Inside Out,” while the third prize of $300 was awarded to Glemroy Baptiste of Bethel High School for “This Feels Like Home.”

Honourable Mention prizes of $100 each were presented to Summer Joseph of St. Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua for “A Family Makes the Home” and Jaden Bacchus of St. Martin’s Secondary for “My Home.”

The event was sponsored by St. Vincent Co-operative Bank Ltd. and the Theo Saunders Shop, both of which are supporting the competition for the second consecutive year. Special commendation was given to the art teachers who encouraged their students to take part.

The public is invited to view the students’ artwork on display at the Youlou Art Gallery in Indian Bay from now until the end of November. A prize-giving ceremony will take place on the afternoon of Saturday, 11 October, where awards will be presented for first, second, and third place, along with two Honourable Mentions.

Winners were selected based on creativity, interpretation of the theme, originality, and effective use of medium. Through this annual competition, Youlou Arts Foundation hopes to nurture the creative spirit of young people, empowering them to freely explore artistic expression. The Foundation remains committed to promoting visual arts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with the aim of inspiring the Vincy public to appreciate the arts and recognise the value they bring to society.

This information was provided by the Youlou Arts Foundation.