The Creative Collective
The Creative Collective!
We at City Lions, want to share and celebrate the creativity of Westminster’s brilliant young people and showcase their art, in all its different forms and demonstrate how creativity, can communicate and express opinions, thoughts and feelings. All too often the voices of young people go unheard. The Creative Collective is a chance for young people to use creativity as a tool to communicate.
Each year, the Collective has different themes that we ask young people to respond to. Themes are determined by young people, as issues or topics they feel are important or relevant to their lives.
2026 Themes:
Community & Connection
Community can be the people you grew up with, the friends you chose, or the spaces (online or offline) where you finally felt seen. This theme invites you to explore what connection means in your world: the moments that make you feel part of something bigger, the relationships that shape you, or the times you’ve felt on the outside looking in. It’s a chance to reflect on how we build belonging, how we hold each other up, and what community looks like for you.
Technology & Me
Technology is woven into almost every part of life, from the way you express yourself to the way you learn, play, and connect. This theme is an invitation to explore your personal relationship with the digital world: the ways tech empowers you, overwhelms you, inspires you, or shapes who you’re becoming. You might look at your online identity, the role of algorithms, the pressure to be constantly available, or the joy of discovering new worlds through a screen. It’s all about how you and technology shape each other.
What I Wish For…
Wishes can be loud or quiet, personal or global, realistic or wildly imaginative. This theme opens the door to your hopes - for yourself, for your community, or for the world you want to grow into. It could be a dream you’ve never said out loud, a change you long to see, or a vision of a future that feels just out of reach. Whether your wish is tender, rebellious, or visionary, this is your space to let it breathe.
Please note, our themes are open to interpretation, and we encourage you to respond to them in whichever way you connect to them the most.
How to Submit
Complete the submission form here by Wednesday 8th April 2026. All entries will be featured in our virtual gallery, and selected works will be showcased in public exhibitions later in the year.
Who Can Apply?
This opportunity is open to young people aged 18 and under who live or study in Westminster.