OUR AWARDS: Youth Development NPO of the Year 2024/25 I Most Visionary Organisation 2024 - Innovation in Education Excellence I Most Innovative Learning Organisation 2020
ENTRIES & WINNERS
Entries received: 1,200
Number of schools participated: 16
Countries participated: Kenya
Number of prizes awarded: 18
Award Ceremony was attended by 400 people
Press: The Star, 17 December 2016; Art Attack (UK)
Prizes totalling 300,000 Ksh (£2,500) are supported by Rivers Foundation (UK). Our special thanks to our judges.
SCHOOL CATEGORY
Naivasha Unity Primary School, Naivasha
Anidan Children Home, Lamu
Cogri Art Club, Nairobi
NPG Academies Primary Schools
Riara Primary
Riara Spring Primary
UNDER 15 CATEGORY
Alan Kiptoo, 4
Fahima Munene, 12, Anidan Children Home, Lamu
Hannah Gathon, 9, Cogri, Nairobi
Shela Foster, 9, Hillcrest Preparatory School, Nairobi
UNDER 25 CATEGORY
1st Prize, Paula Karanja, 20, Nairobi
2nd Prize, Churchhill Ongere, 23, Kisumu
3rd Prize, Richard Kuria, 22, Bungoma, Kenya
4th Edwin Wainaina, 18, Nairobi
5th Paul Kidero, 19, Nairobi
6th Samson Lazima Jali and Louis Tamlyn
Kitengela Glass Research and Training Trust, Nairobi
FILM & VIDEO
Hanna Nebiyu, 16, Niarobi
Crew Teflon, Ben Vic, Timmy Tim, Biior, and Kavi, Nairobi
CATALOGUE
ART - under 25
FILM & VIDEO
Crew Teflon (rappers Ben Vic, Timmy Tim, Biior and Kavi) singing thier song 'The Star', Nairobi
Hanna Nebiyu, 16, Niarobi singing her song 'Run' about child soldiers
ART - schools
MASK Awards ceremony & exhibition
The MASK Awards ceremony and exhibition officially opened on 26 May 2015 at the Michael Joseph Art Center in Nairobi.
The event was inaugurated by The Hon. Stephen Kariuki, Member of the Kenyan Parliament, who emphasized the importance of nurturing creativity through the arts: "MASK sparks creativity. Education in African countries does not give enough attention to the arts in comparison with the Western countries. We can see the difference between children raised in the West and others. If we do not explore our creativity and innovation, we will never get where we want to be."
Prizes were presented by Peterson Kamwathi, a renowned Kenyan artist, and Shiphton Onyango, celebrated musician, underscoring the event’s deep cultural significance and commitment to fostering artistic excellence.
Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
The Best of MASK Awards 2015 exhibition was held at the Saatchi Gallery in London from 14 December 2015 to 7 January 2016.
Co-curated with students from the MA Curatorial Practice program at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), under the guidance of Dr Terry Perk, the exhibition showcased outstanding works submitted to the MASK Awards by schools and young people from Kenya.
The official opening was led by Dr Margaret Lesuuda, Counsellor-Education at the Kenyan High Commission in London, alongside Alan Rivers of the Rivers Foundation, which supports the prizes, and Dr Lyndsay Bird, Chair of Trustees at MASK.
Dr Margaret Lesuuda, Counsellor-Education, Kenya High Commission in London
Alan Rivers of Rivers Foundation that supports the MASK Awards prizes
Aanal Chandaria
Turner Contemporary, Margate, UK
MASK celebrated its first solo exhibition at the renowned public art gallery Turner Contemporary, presenting a powerful collection of selected works from the MASK Awards 2015 (formerly MASK Prize) — including prints and animations — from 12 April to 22 May 2016.
This milestone exhibition not only showcased the exceptional creativity of young Kenyan artists but also highlighted the transformative potential of art in fostering cross-cultural dialogue and inspiring change.
"This exhibition connects to Turner Contemporary's vision, 'Art Inspiring Change,' and enables visitors to see the world differently through the creativity of Kenyan young people," remarked Turner Contemporary about the MASK show.
Zandra Rhodes Gallery, Rochester, UK
11 March - 22 April, 2016
Transformation / Mabadiliko
Winners of MASK Awards 2015 and graduates of Computer Animation Arts at the University of the Creative Arts (UCA) collaborated on the production of the multimedia exhibition 'Transformation/Mabadiliko'.
Animators Vikki Kerslake, Emily Clarkson, Nat Irwin, Ethan Shilling, Samantha Niemczyk, and Steven Payne
Aerists: Paula Karanja, 20, Churchill Ongere, 21, Shela Foster, 9, Allan Kiptoo, 4, Samson Lazima,18, Jali Louis Tamlyn, 18, Edwin Wainaina, 18, and Fahima Munene, 11.
Artists communicated via an online blog revealing exciting possibilities of artistic partnership over media and space: http://caamask.blogspot.com/ The animations, prints of the paintings, and extracts of the blog were exhibited at the Zandra Rhodes Gallery. This project created the opportunity for collaboration, production of innovative art, and integrating ICT into our Creativity Education practice.
Phil Gomm, the UCA Computer Animation course leader, adds: “Computer Animation Arts has a reputation for exciting collaborative working and using computer animation technology in surprising ways to enrich and vivify other creative disciplines. Our work with MASK continues that tradition, as our graduates work closely with seven Kenyan artists in bringing their award-winning artworks to life."
You can see the animations here:
Mark Little, Executive Dean Faculty of Fashion, Architecture & Design; Alan Cooke, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Emma Brasso, Exhibition Curator; Alla Tkachuk, MASK Founder; Rhill Gomm, Course Leader Computer Animation Arts; Professor Simon Ofield-Kerr, Vice Chancellor of the UCA at the opening of the exhibition, 14 March 2016
SPONSORS
Registered UK charity No 1128734
Registered for Gift Aid with HMRC
MASK is a recipient of:
- Youth Development NPO of the Year 2024/25, Corporate LiveWire Global Awards, UK
- Most Visionary Learning Organisation 2024. Innovation in Education Excellence, Acquisition International Non- Profit Organisation Awards 2024, UK
- Top Website 2022, THEGOODESTATE Award, USA
- Most Innovative Learning Organisation 2020, SME News Greater London Award, UK
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