Crafts Council Learning Craft School Yinka’s Challenge

2023 winners

In Partnership With

Congratulations to the winning and commended schools, students and teachers of Craft School: Yinka’s Challenge

In Partnership With

Craft education

Yinka Ilori and Craft School participants 2021-22 gather around their winning artwork in the Crafts Council Gallery

In July 2022 KS1 - KS4 learners were invited to take part in the second year of Craft School: Yinka’s Challenge. This nationwide schools challenge asks primary and secondary school students to submit a craft project on one of three themes: play, storytelling, and empowerment.

The challenge aims to ignite craft teaching and learning in the classroom through hands on making. This year's judging panel includes Lady Kitt, Sophie Leach, and Young Craft Citizens Charis Crawford Corri and Sarah Carden. Looking closely at the young artists' creations, the judges assessed how entrants developed their practical craft skills and pushed their ideas further through making. They also looked for evidence of imagination and risk-taking.

Without further ado, scroll on to discover this year's winning entries.

Winning entries

Key stage 1

Riann Gandhi
Busy Buttons CORE charity

After learning about Yinka Ilori's Laundrette of Dreams, Riaan Gandhi designed his own play space. The judges were charmed by Rhiaan's imaginative blend of wildlife and home decor, including a coral reef shower, zebra rug and teleportation bat to lift visitors between each building level.

I love animals!
Riaan Ghandi

Riaan Gandhi, Busy buttons CORE charity

Key stage 2

Lucy, Ivy, Isla, and Lyra
St George's CE Primary Worcester

Responding to the theme 'Saving the planet', this team of artists created work to express how they would like to protect the earth. Inspired by the bright look of Yinka's Colour Palace, they collaged old wrappers in a river to show that today's environment is imperfect in many ways.

We think that everyone needs to know that we really don’t have a planet B
Lucy, Ivy, Isla and Lyra

Group project, St George's CE Primary Worcester

Key stage 3

Ellie Ma, Eddison Yeung, Isabelle Morris, Brian Chiu, Xavier Sangha-Kainth and Suneet Amarnath,
Concord College

Beginning as a charity shop cushion, this collaborative artwork incorporates the ideas of six artists! Earth motifs are connected by cords to symbolise teamwork and each planet represents a different aspect of the group's lives. Colours are inspired by the flags of the countries they hail from to celebrate their personal heritages.

We connected the earths with yarn and needle felted hearts to show how love can connect and empower people to do good things.
Ellie, Eddison, Isabelle, Brian, Xavier and Suneet

Group project, Concord College

Key stage 4

Jack Barnard and Amber Kour
Bury College

Two artists joined forces to create an exhibition model that captures their experiences of multi-culturalism, collaboration and identity. Amber took inspiration from her Indian heritage and the dresses she spent her early life observing at weddings. Whilst Jack drew influence from his time spent in hospital, having been born with a medical condition.

The playpark is built on an old bin lid, this was something we chose because of its peculiarity, and it's able to be transformed into a beautiful work of art.
Jack Barnard and Amber Kour

Jack Barnard and Amber Kour, Bury College

Yinka’s Award

Busy Buttons CORE Charity

This award is for all the artists and staff at Busy Buttons, recognising their excellence in developing work that celebrates both individual voices and their diverse community as a whole. Staff create space for learners to explore personal approaches, encourage experimentation and support self-reflection of learner’s work. Each artist’s work is unique and celebrates their individual passions and imagination.

Development drawing, iSTEM group project, Busy Buttons CORE Charity

Teacher Award

Kumiko Ayers
Bardwell School

This award acknowledges a standout staff member who fully embraced the spirit of Crafts Council's creative pedagogy Make First. Kumiko's contribution to Craft School has empowered 54 artists to take new risks, develop ideas through making and work collaboratively to create personal and meaningful artworks.

Group project, Bardwell School

Commended

Commendation

Jayden, Lily, Gabriel, Kaitlyin, Olivia, Isabella, Razel, Mathis, Gabriella, Martina, Christabel, Isabella Mia, Anna-Lucia, Mariam, Beatrice, Celeste and Olivia, Larmenier and Sacred Heart RC Primary School

Inspired by Yinka’s chair designs, this large artist team decided to make their own fabric chairs to be used in the school library. Participants interviewed the school librarian to find out what was needed, then created a series of beanbags using lots of textile techniques and eco-friendly stuffing.

These are such a fun and useful addition to the library. The colours and materials are wonderful and I know the children are going to love using them
Mrs Kelly, school librarian

Group project, Larmenier and Sacred Heart RC Primary School

Commendation

Peace Ibewuihe
Eltham Hill

Inspired by her time living in Italy and the beautiful beaches there, Peace chose to restore and repair an old t-shirt. Peace's eye-catching mixed media work combines seashells, found objects and the packaging used to protect lemons with traditional crochet and embroidery techniques.

I decided to experiment with crochet because I knew I was good at it but I also want to challenge myself and try embroidery too.
Peace Ibewuihe

Peace Ibewuihe, Eltham Hill

Commendation

TJ Warburton, Tamara Platt and Olivia Patten
Bury College

This team of artists wanted to communicate the importance of play and aimed to make something that would appeal to both old and young people. They created a fantasy parkland with an emphasis on including everyone in the community, especially those with special needs and mobility issues.

We like that our craft piece is a bit of fantasy in a very real world. It is intended to represent us all and be a place of fun, a place for us all to come together.
TJ Warburton, Tamara Platt, Olivia Patten

Group project, Bury College

Shortlisted

Congratulations to the following artists and schools who also made the shortlist this year.

Class 5 and 8, Bardwell School
Khloe, Eaton Square School
Lillian Francis and Poppie O' Brien, Colmers Farm Primary
Michelle Elema, Busy Buttons CORE Charity
Skye Barnett and Lacey Barnett, Stockingford Academy
Tallula Dobson and Temidire Oyedokun, The Roebuck School
Victor Parker, Orwell Park School
Iris, Nin, Maria, Mohammed and Jed, Bishop of Llandff CIW High School
Arianna Worosz, The Ellesmere Port Church of England College
Ava Murphy, Lilly Gill and Samuel Russell, Belfairs Academy
Benjamin Colhoun, Angelina Biju Michael, Waterfront UTC
Cynthia Nhonoli, Busy Buttons CORE Charity
Darcy McAllister and Olivia Moore, Pewsey Vale School
Emily Fisher, Maiden Erlegh School
Martha Robson and Amelia-Jayne House, Royal High School Bath
Sam Bunning, Thurston Community College

Thank you to all schools and students who took part in Craft School: Yinka's Challenge.

Email learning@craftscouncil.org.uk for more information.

2023 winners

Winning entries

Key stage 1

Key stage 2

Key stage 3

Key stage 4

Yinka’s Award

Teacher Award

Commended

Commendation

Commendation

Commendation

Shortlisted

Read more

Yinka’s Challenge

Yinka Ilori in conversation with his teacher

5 kaleidoscopic projects by new Crafts Council trustee Yinka Ilori

Make First: A new vision for families in Crafts Council Gallery

Winning entries Key stage 1

Key stage 2

Key stage 3

Key stage 4

Yinka’s Award

Teacher Award

Commended

Commendation

Commendation

Commendation

Shortlisted

Yinka’s Challenge

Yinka Ilori in conversation with his teacher

5 kaleidoscopic projects by new Crafts Council trustee Yinka Ilori

Make First: A new vision for families in Crafts Council Gallery

Winning entries

Key stage 1