John Downton Awards and exhibition 2025/26 video transcript

Transcript for the video on The John Downton Awards webpage.

[Soft classical live music plays]

[Caption: John Downton Awards and Art Exhibition 2025/26]

[The John Downton Awards logo appears on screen]

[The video cuts to a group of classical musicians performing live inside Sessions House]

[Caption: Voice of Paul Webb, KCC Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services]

[The video cuts to a clip of the John Downton Awards signage. Followed by scenes of people enjoying the exhibition, viewing artworks, and moving around the event space]

[Voiceover of Paul Webb]

Paul Webb: It’s a real pleasure to mark the 25th anniversary of the John Downton Awards. A remarkable milestone and a fitting moment as we bring this much loved programme to a close. For 25 years, these awards have championed young artists from across Kent. They have inspired creativity, encouraged ambition, and helped thousands of students develop their skills. This year is no exception.

[Background music stops]

[The video then shows Clarrie Wallis, Director of Turner Contemporary standing at the front of the room, presenting live to the audience.]

[Clarrie Wallis] These awards are named after John Downton, a Kent artist who deeply believed in careful looking, craft, and personal expression. And it’s really inspiring to see his name associated with work that shows such individuality across painting, drawing, photography and mixed media.There is a real willingness to experiment, to take risks, to try things out, and to push ideas a little further. That kind of curiosity and ambition is something we value hugely in the art world, and it’s incredibly encouraging to see it so strongly represented here in Kent.

[The video transitions to an overlay showing examples of winning artwork.]

[Caption: 36 schools took part in the John Downton Awards this year, including 6 SEND schools. 453 works of art were entered.]

[Background music plays while showing guests viewing displays and celebrating the exhibition]

[Caption: "The hundreds of submissions from schools across the county show the extraordinary breadth of talent coming through.” – Paul Webb]

[Caption: "It’s been a privilege to see so many remarkable works during this time.” – Clarrie Wallis]

[The list of winners]

[A montage of images from the event.]

[Caption: Thank you all for being part of the John Downton Awards. To view all the shortlisted artwork go to the John Downton Awards page]

[The KCC logo and John Downton Awards logo appear on screen]

[Video ends]