Mayor visits WMG Academy to celebrate art competition winners

WMG Academy in Solihull welcomed mayor Annette Mackenzie for a special visit to celebrate students who were successful in the Your Future Chelmsley Wood Project art competition.

On Monday 12 January, the mayor visited the academy to meet the winning students, present their awards and learn more about the creative work produced through the academy’s Art Enrichment programme.

The competition entries were produced during Art Enrichment sessions at the academy, where students are encouraged to participate in local and national art competitions—an area in which the academy has already seen significant success.

As part of the project, students explored their personal connection to the local Chelmsley Wood area, with a particular focus on the natural landscape.

In the 11–14 age category, the winning artwork was created by Jorge Draper and Hasan Hussein in Year 10, who focused on Babbs Mill Park. The 15–18 age category was won by Year 11 students Glynnis Bautista, Lily Exton and Brooke Davidson, whose work centred on their meeting point at a local bus stop.

Reflecting on the experience, Glynnis Bautista, a Year 11 student, said: “It was an honour to meet Mayor Mackenzie. She was very welcoming and we enjoyed talking to her about art.”

During the visit, mayor Mackenzie met the winning students and presented them with their prizes. Photographs were taken with the students alongside Mr Stuart Tait, Mrs Claire Morris and Mrs Kit Brown.

The Mayor was then given a tour of the academy led by head students Mia Hill and Grace Palmer, followed by a meeting and discussion with Principal Mrs Claire Morris.