Creative Writing Competition
Opens: Saturday 23 May
Closes: Monday 31 August
Tickets: https://arlington-arts.com/creative-writing-competition-launch/
Box Office: 01635 244246
boxoffice@arlingtonarts.co.uk
Arlington Arts Centre, Mary Hare, Snelsmore Common, Newbury RG14 3BQ
ARLINGTON ARTS CENTRE IS TURNING 20!
To celebrate two decades of creativity and Arlington Arts Centre’s place as one of Newbury’s leading arts centres, we’re launching a special Creative Writing Competition, with the winning entry from each category to be published in theNewbury Weekly News.
Past and Present
The venue is embracing their success so far and looking forward to future plans, so has chosen the theme of Past and Present for your starting point.
You can write about anything you like using this theme as a prompt; we can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Proud to be inclusive, Arlington Arts Centre decided on a range of age groups to be judged separately so writers young and not-so-young can all join the fun:
12 and under: Young Creators
13–19: Rising Voices
20-49: The Next Chapter
50+:Seasoned Storytellers
Your mission: create something brilliant in 500 words or less.
The competition launches on 23 May with a closing date of midnight on 31 August 2026.
All entrants will be invited to the grand awards ceremony on 14 October where the winners of each category will be announced and their story read out by local creatives.
Prizes:
- Each category will be shortlisted, with a winning entry picked for each category.
- The winning entry from each category will be published in The Newbury Weekly News, with accompanying photograph of the winning entrant.
- All shortlisted entrants’ names to be listed in the publication.
- Subject to available space this publication may be in print, online or both.
- The winning entry and all shortlisted entries from each category will be read out at the awards evening on 14 October 2026.
- All winning entries will receive 1 free ticket to a future show at Arlington Arts Centre of their choice.*
*The venue will give winners a choice from selected shows only.
Would you like to get involved behind the scenes?
Please email boxoffice@arlingtonarts.co.uk if you would like to be considered for the judging panel, as a speaker for the awards evening, or perhaps a sponsor or exhibitor (particularly if you are a local author who would like to showcase your work at the awards evening).
Help Arlington Arts Centre celebrate 20 years of songs, stories and the community by adding a brand-new story of your own.
Arlington Arts
They are on the site of Mary Hare School, please stick to the public areas (the auditorium, foyer, grass and smoking area to the left hand side of the venue entrance as you look at it).
Doors to the venue open an hour before the performance starts, with the bar starting service at the same time.
Doors to the auditorium usually open half an hour before a performance.
Tickets can be purchased from the box office (which is directly opposite the entrance doors) during opening hours (10am-4.30pm weekdays), as well as just before and during the show.
Their box office and bar accept both card and cash payments.
Please note that there is no cash machine on site.
FOR CARER AND ACCESS SEATS, please call 01635 244 246 – or email boxoffice@arlingtonarts.co.uk.
All parking is free of charge.
IMPORTANT: ARLINGTON LANE IS NOW THE DESIGNATED PUBLIC ENTRANCE AND EXIT
Arlington Lane can be entered by both the B4494 and Oxford Road (green arrows).
What3Words is better to use than the site postcode
Arlington Lane entrance – ///metro.beginning.insiders
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