Published on: 22 June 2026
Local residents across Derby and Derbyshire are being invited to share what hope means to them as Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust launches its 2026 art competition. 
This year’s competition theme is ‘a ray of hope’, with entries open until midnight on Sunday 9 August 2026.
The competition is open to service users, carers, children, Trust members, Derbyshire Healthcare colleagues, stakeholders, partner organisations and voluntary sector organisations.
Participants can use any two-dimensional medium, such as paints, pencils, crayons, inks, collage or material, and can enter as an individual or as part of a group.
This year’s theme, ‘a ray of hope’, asks people to think about what hope looks like to them and express this through their artwork. Once complete, entrants should take a good quality photograph of their work and send it electronically to dhcft.membership@nhs.net.
Take a look at last year's finalists for inspiration:
How to enter
To enter, create your artwork, take a clear photograph and email it with a completed entry form. Please also include a short paragraph of up to 200 words explaining how your artwork represents ‘a ray of hope’ and what it means to you.
If your entry is shortlisted, this paragraph will be shared alongside your artwork. Entrants aged under 18 must have their entry form signed by a parent or guardian.
All entries must be original pieces of work created by the person submitting them.
The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday 9 August 2026.
Finalists will be invited to the Trust’s virtual Annual Members Meeting on 30 September 2026, where the winners will be announced. Prizes include a certificate and artist materials.
Consent
Through entering the competition, participants give Derbyshire Healthcare permission to use their name and/or entry in publicity materials. Artwork will be credited to the entrant unless they ask to remain anonymous, and copyright will remain with the participant.
To find out more, please visit the competition webpage or call 01332 623723.
