Wolverhampton Art Gallery wins £100,000 award for youth projects
Wolverhampton Art Gallery has secured a £100,000 prize in the inaugural Freelands Awards, celebrating its forward‑thinking youth programmes.
The award recognises two flagship strands – ArtForum, a free, hands‑on workshop series for 14‑ to 25‑year‑olds, and MORE ART INC, a platform for emerging artists aged 16‑30 from Wolverhampton and the surrounding area.
Council leader Stephen Simkins hailed the win as a strong endorsement, noting how the programmes have opened doors for young people who previously felt art galleries weren’t for them, many now launching careers in the creative sector.
The Freelands Foundation created the awards to highlight visual‑arts organisations that sustain lifelong learning despite funding pressures, and a panel of judges selected the gallery after site visits across the UK.