Walsall residents invited to take part in Black Country “Fossil of the Year” Art Competition

Walsall Council is encouraging residents of all ages to get creative and learn more about the region’s incredible ancient past by taking part in the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark Fossil of the Year Art Competition. 

The international visual art competition celebrates the fascinating fossil heritage found across the Black Country, including right here in Walsall and invites people to produce artwork inspired by the prehistoric sea creatures, plants and other life forms preserved in the rocks beneath our feet. 

Participants can draw, paint, or use any art form they choose to capture their favourite Black Country fossil, with entries submitted digitally. The competition is open to all ages and will be divided into under-12s and over-12s categories. Winners will receive a family guided fossil hunting trip to Wrens Nest National Nature Reserve and a £25 art materials voucher. 

Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Health and Wellbeing, said, “This is a brilliant opportunity for people in Walsall to celebrate our shared Black Country heritage. Many residents know about the area’s history of industry, but fewer know that some of the most important fossils in the world were discovered right here.  

This competition gives people of all ages the chance to express their creativity while learning about the ancient life beneath our borough. I’d love to see Walsall artists young and old take part and even win the competition” 

The Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark spans all four local authority areas Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell and Wolverhampton and tells a geological story more than 428 million years in the making. From shallow tropical seas to prehistoric plants and invertebrates, the fossils found here showcase an extraordinary timeline of ancient life. 

Residents who want inspiration can visit Dudley Museum at the Archives (free entry), where some of the finest fossil discoveries from across the Black Country are on display. 

Winning artwork from the Black Country will go on to represent the region as part of a larger international (European) Geoparks art competition called ‘Fossil of the Year 2026’ as the representative work from the Black Country UNESCO Global. Geopark and further prizes and accolades will be up for grabs.  

From all the submissions across the European Geoparks, a winner will again be chosen in March 2026. The winning picture will then be named the Fossil of the Year 2026 of the European Geopark Network. With that winner likely to be formally announced on 21st May 2026, the birthday of Mary Anning, England’s first lady of geology.  

So, what do you need to do to enter? 

It couldn’t be simpler, just create an artwork based on Black Country fossils and then submit a digital image of your fossil-themed artwork to blackcountrygeopark@dudley.gov.uk before 5pm on the 31st December 2025. Please include your name, age, address and telephone number.  

The competition is open to all ages. 

ENDS 

Terms and conditions: 

• By entering this competition, you agree to these terms and conditions and to comply fully with them. 
• This competition is open to residents within the Black Country only 
• Anyone involved with the competition and judging (including their families and relatives) cannot enter this competition 
• One entry only per person is permitted. 
• Photos should represent only fossils found in the rock layers of the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark and their ancient worlds. 
• Anyone under the age of 18 must get permission from their parent or guardian before they enter. 
• By submitting an entry for the competition, it is deemed their parent/carer/guardian is giving consent and agrees to the use of the entry as described in these terms and conditions 
• The competition closes at 5pm on 31st December 2025, entries received after this date will not be considered 
• Your images should be sent in a jpeg format via email to https://blackcountrygeopark.dudley.gov.uk/bcg/ 
• Photos can also be sent via WeTransfer to the same address 
• Entries should include name, age and address and a contact telephone number 
• By entering the competition, the entrant gives permission for their image to be used freely by the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark for the promotion of the competition and the geopark. 
• Every effort will be made to ensure credits are given to any artworks created or published in any medium 
• By submitting images to the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark competition, each entrant confirms:  

-they are the sole creator of the artwork they enter, and it is their original work  

-they own the copyright and any other intellectual property rights of each artwork