Created: Jun 27, 2026 03:00 PM
Janet McGowan, visiting from Boston, observes entries form the 58th annual Bermuda Schools’ Art Exhibition (File photograph)
An annual pupils’ art showcase raised more than $6,000 for arts education.
The 61st Bermuda Schools’ Art Exhibition, held between the Department of Education and the Bermuda Society of Arts, celebrated 12 talented youngsters chosen for the People’s Choice Awards.
Kalmar Richards, the Commissioner of Education, said: “What makes the People’s Choice so special is that it comes directly from the community.
“These awards are not selected by a panel of experts. They are chosen by the people, by parents, teachers, neighbours, visitors and supporters who walked through the exhibition and said, ‘this piece speaks to me’.
“Being chosen by the people means your work is connected. It made someone pause. It made someone feel. It made someone think.”
The exhibition was the final chapter of the Spring Into the Arts festival, which ran across several months.
The theme this year was “One World, Many Stories,” which sought to highlight the diversity of the island’s people.
Winners and Runners-up
• Lower Primary (P1 — P3) Winner: Karsten Cloud Necesito of Victor Scott Primary; Runners-up: Ada Bradshaw of Purvis Primary, John Drummond of Harrington Sound Academy
• Upper Primary (P4 — P6) Winner: Shivya Konaru of Somerset Primary; Runners-up: Leonardo Stoppa of Mount Saint Agnes Academy, Kaylee Kelly of Bermuda Institute
• Middle School (M1–M3) Winner: Amouri Hollis of Dellwood Middle School; Runners-up: Brooklyn Hunt of Sandys Secondary Middle, Izaeah Hayward of Dellwood Middle School
• Senior School (S1 — S4) Winner: Cayzie Ford of Warwick Academy; Runners-up: Tatiana Sousa of Warwick Academy, Callie Lucas of Saltus Grammar School
Winners and Runners-up
• Lower Primary (P1 — P3) Winner: Karsten Cloud Necesito of Victor Scott Primary; Runners-up: Ada Bradshaw of Purvis Primary, John Drummond of Harrington Sound Academy
• Upper Primary (P4 — P6) Winner: Shivya Konaru of Somerset Primary; Runners-up: Leonardo Stoppa of Mount Saint Agnes Academy, Kaylee Kelly of Bermuda Institute
• Middle School (M1–M3) Winner: Amouri Hollis of Dellwood Middle School; Runners-up: Brooklyn Hunt of Sandys Secondary Middle, Izaeah Hayward of Dellwood Middle School
• Senior School (S1 — S4) Winner: Cayzie Ford of Warwick Academy; Runners-up: Tatiana Sousa of Warwick Academy, Callie Lucas of Saltus Grammar School
Pupils between years 2 and 12 were selected from 24 participating public and private schools.
Categories were split into Lower Primary, Upper Primary, Middle School and High School.
The winners of each category won a $250 cheque for their school’s art department.
All participating schools will receive a cash injection to assist their arts programmes.
The Department of Education presented Commissioner of Education’s Certificates of Recognition, including posthumous tributes to cultural icon Zaniko Hendrickson and legendary music educator Sergeant Major James Van Lowe.
Recording artist Ponaflex was also honoured for his local and international contributions to music.
