This annual award is designed to celebrate the importance of art in the education system and showcase young artistic talent to a wider audience.
Secondary school students across Portugal were invited to participate, with 30 being shortlisted for the exhibitions held in Museu do Traje in São Brás de Alportel, Howard’s Folly winery in Estremoz, and at the Sociedade Nacional das Belas Artes in Lisbon.
In Lisbon, the students’ work was displayed alongside the finalists of the professional 2025 Sovereign Portuguese Art Prize, now in its fourth year, which features many of Portugal’s most exciting contemporary artists.
Gabriela Freitas’ graphite drawing titled ‘Sombras de Nostalgia’ won a grant of €500 for herself and €1,500 grant for her school, Escola Secundária Caldas das Taipas in Guimarães.
Ana Tato’s acrylic painting on k-line board titled ‘PessOAs do MaR’ attracted the most public votes which were made both online and in person at the exhibitions. Ana receives a €300 grant and her school Escola Secundária Augusto Gomes in Matosinhos receives a grant of €800.
The finalists’ artworks were all offered for sale through a silent auction with the sales proceeds split equally between the student and Associação SAF, the Portuguese arm for SAF, for their art workshops being held for disadvantaged children in Estremoz, Lisbon and Loulé.
Both winners will now go through to the Global Students Prize, which brings together the winning artworks of all SAF’s Students Prize competitions around the world to select a Global Judges Prize winner and Global Public Vote Prize winner.
SAF is a charity set up in 2003 in Hong Kong to launch the Sovereign Asian Art Prize with the purpose of recognising the best artists in the Asia region, whilst raising money to help disadvantaged children. Since its inception, SAF has raised over USD15 million to fund projects using art as education, rehabilitation and therapy for over 20,000 children in need around the world.
SAF now runs annual professional art prizes in Asia, Africa and Portugal, as well as 12 Student Art Prizes worldwide to inspire, encourage and reward young artists in the community. Based around the global office network of the Sovereign Group, these comprise Bahrain, Chester, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Isle of Man, London, Malta, Mauritius, Portugal and Singapore.
The 9th Portugal Students Prize 2026 has already been launched, inviting secondary school students in Years 10-12 to participate. Nominations must be received online between January 5 and March 6.
For more information, visit www.SovereignArtFoundation.com
