Kimbolton School Celebrates Vanbrugh300 Through the National Gallery’s Articulation Prize

As a partner house of the Vanbrugh300 festival, Kimbolton is playing an active role in this tercentenary year celebrating Sir John Vanbrugh in 2026. Vanbrugh became involved at Kimbolton in 1707, when the south-east corner of the Castle collapsed during the Earl of Manchester’s tenure as Ambassador to Venice. He and his assistant, Nicholas Hawksmoor, were brought in to support the local contractor, William Coleman, and went on to devise ambitious plans to redesign the entire South Front. The school community has embraced the opportunity to explore and champion the architect’s legacy, using its own remarkable historic setting as a living classroom. By engaging students in research and public presentation, Kimbolton is not only recognising Vanbrugh’s contribution to British architecture but also inspiring a new generation to uncover the stories woven into its very fabric.

The National Gallery in London’s Trafalgar Square houses the main national collection of Western European paintings from the 13th to the 19th centuries. Every year, the Gallery’s Articulation Prize invites students aged 16 to 19 each to deliver a ten-minute presentation on a work of art, architecture or an artefact of their choice, explored within a museum or gallery context. Participants select a single work, or a cohesive series of works by the same artist, architect or maker, and present their ideas to an audience. Presentations are assessed by adjudicators on content, structure, delivery, originality and the speaker’s unique potential. Schools begin by holding internal heats to select a representative, who will then progress to regional heats and finals hosted in museums and galleries across the country.

On Tuesday 27th January, Kimbolton School’s Art Critical & Contextual Studies pupils from the Lower and Upper Sixth delivered a series of thoughtful and well-researched presentations to members of the Manchester Group as part of their progress towards the Articulation Prize. With 2026 marking the 300th anniversary of John Vanbrugh’s death, the focus of the evening was his architectural legacy. The talks explored his influence on some of Britain’s most significant historic buildings as well as the wider artistic and historical context of the period, linking national heritage to Kimbolton’s own architectural story.

One student explored the Acropolis frieze, examining how early sketches created shortly before its destruction now serve as a vital visual record, and reflecting on how restoration, reproduction and historical documentation shape our understanding of ancient art. Another examined the design of Kimbolton Castle’s gardens, considering how architectural thinking influenced landscape design in the period. Others compared Kimbolton with great country houses associated with Vanbrugh, such as Blenheim Palace, analysing stylistic similarities while highlighting the distinct ways in which each conveys grandeur, identity and heritage. Another student focused on changing eighteenth-century ideas of comfort and fashion, exploring how interior remodelling reflected evolving tastes. A further approach considered Vanbrugh’s unconventional route into architecture and how his varied background informed his bold designs. A final presentation offered a broader biographical study, reflecting on the personal and professional challenges he faced throughout his career.

A central aim of the Vanbrugh300 festival is to inspire schools, families and community groups to engage more deeply with John Vanbrugh’s life, work and architectural legacy. By encouraging young people to research, analyse and present their ideas with confidence, initiatives such as the Articulation Prize provide a meaningful way to connect national heritage with local experience.

It has been especially encouraging to see Kimbolton School embrace the opportunity to use its unique setting as a springboard for wider exploration. As the anniversary year unfolds, it is hoped many more schools and communities will take part in Vanbrugh300, discovering not only Vanbrugh’s legacy, but also the value of looking closely and sharing ideas with conviction.