Rathbones are one of the sponsors of the dot-art Schools competition, an annual art event for primary and secondary schools in the Liverpool City Region. dot-art Schools is an interactive, online competition, culminating in an exhibition at St Georges Hall from the 5th to the 21st June. The competition is designed to nurture talent, raise ambition, and take art out of the classroom and into the real world.

Each school creates and selects 25 pieces of student work which they feel best represent the talents of their students. These art works are then submitted by February half term and put on display to the world via the dot-art Schools website, schools.dot-art.com.

A panel of art experts will select the top 3 artworks from each school.  Students from all the schools in the programme, as well as the general public, will then be able to vote for their favourite piece of art from the judge's shortlist.

Chief Operating Officer Andrew Butcher said, “Rathbones has a proud history of assisting local organisations and charities like the dot-art Schools competition. We are committed to investing in the next generation, as demonstrated by our financial awareness programme for schools, our apprenticeship scheme, and other youth development initiatives such as the sponsorship of the Education Business Awards. Supporting the arts has become a core element of our engagement, not only with our clients but the broader community. This initiative complements our work in both these areas.”

Carolyn Murray, project manager at dot-art Schools added, "dot-art Schools are delighted to have the support of Rathbones as a sponsor for our annual inter-schools art competition. We're really pleased to be associated with such a high profile and well respected national company, which also retains their strong Liverpool roots and has been closely linked with the community since its foundation 250 years ago.  dot-art Schools are proud to have a company of this stature helping us support young people's creativity across the Liverpool city region."

The overall winner of the year 9 entries will win a scholarship to dot-art, giving them a year's membership to dot-art's network, allowing them to showcase and sell their work alongside professional artists. Two runners up, as well as the winner, will win a selection of prizes. The overall winner of the year 6 entries, as well as the two runners up, will also win a selection of prizes. All shortlisted artists will be awarded certificates.