The annual Watford Area Arts Forum competition is now open.

Budding artists are invited to submit their interpretation of the competition’s theme, ‘Dreams’, through any art form or in writing. Dreams could cover many topics; nightmares, dreamcatchers, the meaning of a dream, foretelling of an event, aspirations or your own slant on the theme.

The winners of each of the competitions will receive The Harrington Trophy and a £50 cash prize, second prize is £30 and third is £20.

On Saturday, July 20, at 2.30pm presentations will be made to the winners of the competitions in both categories at Watford Museum. The prizes have been generously donated by Richard Harrington MP.

Art Challenge

Please submit your work with the theme ‘Dreams’ and your interpretation, but give your entry a title other than ‘Dreams’.

Entries can be in any form, including oils, watercolours, pen and ink, collages and photographs.

Bring your entry along to Watford Museum on Wednesday, July 3, between 11am and 4pm. All entries will be on display at the museum from Thursday, July 4, until Saturday, July 20. Artists will have the option of putting their work up for sale. Mario Lautier Vella, a local artist and the winner of last year’s trophy, has agreed to judge the entries this year.

Writing Challenge

Can you come up with 500 words on the theme of ‘Dreams’? This could be in the style of a factual or fictional story that you are bursting to write, or maybe a poem or a play?

The entries will be shortlisted by Mick Callanan, Delivery Director for the Orwell Youth Prize and an English teacher for 30 years. The final judging panel will include Richard Harrington MP, Watford’s Elected Mayor Peter Taylor, and former Watford Observer journalist Oliver Phillips.

The deadline for entry is Monday, June 17. The entries will be then be displayed at Watford Museum from Thursday, July 4, and the winners of the literary competition will be announced at a Watford Writers’ meeting on Monday, July 15, at 7.30pm. All entrants are invited to the results night and also to the presentation event on Saturday, July 20, at Watford Museum.

Entries should have no less than 300 words and should have a title other than ‘dreams’.

Full details for submitting your entry and rules are available at www.watfordwriters.co.uk or www.watfordareaartsforum.com Queries should be referred to Watfordwriters@gmail.com (Literature) or lwjbutler@live.co.uk (Art)