Arlington Arts Centre is turning 20!

To celebrate two decades of creativity and our place as one of Newbury’s leading arts centres, we’re launching a special Creative Writing Competition, with the winning entry from each category to be published in the Newbury Weekly News.

Past and Present

The theme is Past and Present, and we can’t wait to see your take on it.   You can write about anything using this theme as a prompt, whether it’s a memory, a turning point, a clash of old and new, or even a completely imagined world.  If it connects yesterday to today, it fits, be it prose or a poem.

Inclusivity is key at Arlington Arts Centre so we’ve decided on a range of age groups to be judged separately so writers young and not-so-young can all join the fun:

12 and under: Young Creators

13–19: Rising Voices

20-49: The Next Chapter

50+:Seasoned Storytellers

Your mission: create something brilliant in 500 words or less.

The competition launches on 23 May with a closing date of midnight on 31 August 2026.  All entrants will be invited to our grand awards ceremony on 14 October where the winners of each category will be announced and their story read out by local creatives. Full list of prizes will be announced at competition launch.

Help us celebrate 20 years of songs, stories and our community by adding a brand-new story of your own.