2025 Award, twelfth edition, DISABILITY AND STRENGTH

The theme proposed for this twelfth edition of the Prize, open to students from university-level institutions, is: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. DISABILITY AND STRENGTH.

People with disabilities, with their courage in facing the challenges of everyday life, point the way toward a path of resilience, whereby everything becomes possible and barriers can fall, provided the process is supported by trust in the community and adequate resources. People with disabilities themselves, through active participation in civic life, can contribute to the transformation of society.

An audio description of the work, no longer than two minutes, in both Italian and English, remains required.

The following institutions participated: Academy of Fine Arts of FLORENCE, FOGGIA, NAPLES, VENICE, ISIA of ROME and PORDENONE, ISIA of URBINO. Advanced Course at the Scuola del Libro URBINO, IULM Communication School, MILAN. Academy of Fine Arts of Brera, MILAN, Albertina Academy of Fine Arts, TURIN, York St John University, YORK, Leeds Arts University, LEEDS, Newcastle University, NEWCASTLE UPON THYNE, National College of Art and Design (NCAD), DUBLIN, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest, BUDAPEST.

First, second, and third prizes were awarded to students from Italian institutions and to students from British institutions. The first prize consists of a week's accommodation and meals at the University of Urbino Colleges, with a travel grant, or €500. The ATS IV Marche Region Special Prize for students from institutions in the Marche region and the Amicucci Prize were also awarded. Works from institutions in York were awarded the Mark Bailey Special Prize, equivalent to a first prize.

The jury is composed as follows: Bruno Bartoccini, ANFFAS Kimbal Burmstead, Artist Giulio Calegari, Artist and Palethnologist at the Natural History Museum, Milan Raffaele De Simone, ADI-MAM, Industrial Design Association, Marche Abruzzo and Molise Griselda Goldsbrough, Arts Development Manager for the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Martin Worthington, Trinity College, Dublin Aurora Moreschini, expert in audio description.

The awards ceremony took place on December 3, 2025, in Urbino, in the Conference Hall of the Palazzo Ducale in Urbino. The ceremony was also held online, assisted by an IT technician from Terminus Digital Art. During the awards ceremony, a live link was established with York St John University, co-presented by Helen Turner, Co-Director of Art at York St John University.

The exhibition of all the works, curated by Nunzia Invernizzi, Art Director of the Association, opened on December 3 at the Galleria Albani, via Mazzini, Urbino, and will remain open until December 8, inclusive.

SEE THE 2025 URBINO EXHIBITION

Further exhibitions of some of the work have been held at York Hospital and York Explore Library and Archives to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities. An exhibition of all the works, curated by Helen Turner, Co-Director of Art at York St John University, will take place in March 2026 in the Creative Centre at York St John University.