King Lear Prizes

The National Creative Arts Competition for Over 60s

 
 

King Lear Prizes Anthology

Purchase your copy today.

The King Lear Prizes will return in 2025

Thank you to everyone who entered the competition in 2023.

If you have a query about the King Lear Prizes, please contact support@kinglearprizes.org

At a Glance

  • Categories: Art, Poetry, Short Story

  • Separate categories for beginners and experienced amateurs

  • Over £3,000 of cash prizes for winners and shortlistees, and certificates for Highly Commended entries

  • £5 per entry, to cover costs

  • Enter online or by post

  • Deadline: Friday 14th July 2023

New this year

  • King’s Coronation themed works encouraged (but not required)

  • Group prizes (announcement coming soon!)

  • New ways to get feedback on your work (announcement coming soon!)

  • Anthology of the best works sent to Buckingham Palace for the King and Queen

As featured in…

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What do our participants say?

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Testimonials
Susan’s story

“I’ve produced a piece during lockdown, thanks to the jet propulsion of yours, that’s been worrying me for the last 20 years.”

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Ian’s story

“I get so carried away with the painting that I lose track of the time. My wife often has to come and stop me around midnight!”

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Bryan’s story

“I always have ideas and put down bits of ideas here and there on my laptop. Because of your deadline, I've finished some.”

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Chrissie’s story

“It has been wonderful to focus on a project, this one aimed at over seventies couldn’t have been better...Thank you again for turning isolation into something positive.”

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Mike’s story

“It’s not about winning, it’s about painting again. Thanks for the kick up the ****, spurred me on.”

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Rose’s story

“Without your Lear Prize I would never have done it, since in my seventy three years of life I never had the urge to write stories before. Thanks for all your time and effort.”

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Peter’s story

“I thought you might like to know that the prizes have proved to be hugely motivational for me….It has helped me emerge from a trough of despond, and a very difficult time of severe health problems.”

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Paddy’s story

“It gave me an extra incentive to finish it in order to enter, plus it helped take my mind off things during solitary lockdown.”

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June’s story

“I thought why not write a story and off I went, an idea came to me one night and two weeks later it was off to you... Thank you for putting me on this path, I’m loving it!”

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Gyles Brandreth, writer, broadcaster and Judge for the King Lear Prizes 2021 said,

“Whether you are a keen amateur, picking up again after many years, or even if you are dabbling in a new hobby for the first time, the King Lear Prizes should be just the prod you need to get going.”

“As we’ve known all along: when it comes to creativity, age doesn’t matter a jot!”