About the competition
The Stephen Lawrence Research Centre, in partnership with Opal22, invites secondary school students aged 12–18 from across England to participate in The Culture Comics Graphic Novel Competition by creating original graphic stories that explore pressing questions in today’s society.
For students aged 12–15, the prompt is: "Black culture is…" This question encourages students to explore and express their personal experiences and perspectives on Black culture and its significance.
For students aged 16–18, the prompt is: "Why vote?" This question invites students to reflect on the importance of voting, especially for young people from diverse backgrounds, and to consider how voting could be made more meaningful and inclusive.
Prizes
The top 50 will:
- Attend an exclusive workshop with Comics Laureate Bobby Joseph & Illustrator Waheeda Rahman-Mair in Leicester.
- Have their submissions published in a Graphic Novel Anthology.
- See their work displayed in a public exhibition in Leicester.
Templates
You can download a template to help get you started. There is also a school pack for teachers.
Consent forms
A consent form must be submitted with your competition entry. If you are under 16 this will need to be signed by your parent or guardian.
How to enter
- You must be 12-18 years old to enter
- Should be no longer than two A4 pages
- Remember to include your consent form
- Upload in PDF, JPEG or PNG format
We want to see your creativity; in any way you express it. The deadline for entries is 2 March 2025. Find out more by reading our FAQs.
Support & Contact Information
If you have any questions, need technical support, or just want to chat about the competition, reach out to us!
Email: info@opal22.co.uk
Phone: 0116 248 7196
Working Hours 9:30am – 5pm
Submit your entry
The competition deadline is 2 March 2025.