Following its inaugural edition in 2024, Camden Schools Art Biennale returns from 14 – 26 July 2026, once again bringing together the creative energy of Camden’s schools in a major two-week exhibition at the Lethaby Gallery at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London (UAL).
Set in the heart of King’s Cross – one of London’s leading hubs for creativity, innovation and cultural exchange – the Biennale will bring together schools, artists and cultural organisations from across Camden.
Launched as a partnership between Camden Council, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London and Camden Learning, the Biennale continues to place a borough-wide focus on enhancing arts opportunities for pupils and staff, raising standards and strengthening creative provision across schools. The exhibition and associated outreach activity is also supported by John Lyon’s Charity, The King’s Cross Group, Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne and Camden STEAM.
The second edition has expanded opportunities for participation and outreach across Camden’s schools. Over 20 art organisations and artists have delivered arts programmes in the lead-up to the Biennale, enriching the curriculum and developing works for the exhibition itself.
The Biennale will feature hundreds of artworks – including sculpture, painting, drawing and film created by pupils across every key stage of learning from the Early Years Foundation Stage, primary and special education through to secondary and A-Level.
For 2026, a new 2D ‘sculpture park’ will extend across the Kings Cross estate, bringing young people’s work beyond the gallery for the first time. Alongside the exhibition, a free public events programme at the Lethaby Gallery will invite families, teachers and young people to take part in creative workshops, talks and activities exploring art and making across disciplines.
The programme includes hands-on workshops, artist-led sessions, youth-focused career pathways events and opportunities to engage directly with the exhibition and its makers, aiming to open access to creative learning beyond the classroom while strengthening connections between schools, practitioners and the wider public.
The 2026 Biennale will highlight how art connects Camden’s diverse communities, strengthening links between schools, artists, families and local cultural organisations.
Through its exhibition and outreach programme, the Biennale continues to raise the profile of art teaching across the borough, encouraging young people to see creative practice not only as a form of self-expression but as a viable pathway into future careers. This reflects Camden Council’s wider STEAM ambitions, strengthening connections between schools and the borough’s thriving creative and cultural industries.
