Exhibition

On 1-5 July 2024, we are holding a 10th anniversary art exhibition at the esteemed Royal Society of Arts. ***Reflections on Conflict*** brings together artwork entered into NSI’s international competition over the last decade.
As well as considerable talent, a broad range of themes are on display, including grief, hope and empathy.

Gallery Location & Opening Hours

The Vaults of The Royal Society of Arts
8 John Adam St, London, WC2N 6EZ
Monday, 1 July: Noon-9PM
Tuesday, 2 July: 8PM-11PM
Thursday, 4 July: 8AM-8PM+
Friday, 5 July: 8AM-8PM+

+Please check back for exact timings on 28th June!

Special Talks

Join the NSI team for an expanded look into the exhibition. Click the title to sign up.
Monday, 1 July - 18:00-19:30 - Exhibition tour for young adults (18-24 years old)
Thursday, 4 July - 13:00-14:00 - Why we need to listen to the next generation

Lady Lucy French OBE, Founder of NSI

For 270 years the Royal Society of Arts has harnessed the curiosity, creativity and courage of people to realise change: it is a great privilege to be showcasing the voices of children and young people from around the globe there as part of our Never Such Innocence (NSI) 10th Anniversary. For a decade, NSI has seen how children process conflict and envisage peace. Their art works are powerful and poignant. In a digital age, we are seeing talented poets, artists, writers and songwriters putting pen to paper. Children recording, deciphering and reflecting on war - a band of courageous war artists.

Andy Haldane, Chief Executive Officer, the Royal Society of Arts

The Royal Society of Art's theme for 2024 is 'courage'. What better way to explore this theme than through inspiring artwork on conflict by young people from around the world. We are proud to welcome charity Never Such Innocence to The Vaults to showcase the art of the children they work with. They have shown incredible courage in creating such thought-provoking and moving pieces which will help promote empathy at such an important time.

Never Such Innocence

Never Such Innocence is a registered charity (number 1156148) in England and Wales and is a unique project fitting into the wider series of 2014-2018 centenary activities. Our aim is to ensure young people nationally are inspired, informed and included in the centenary activities.

The charity takes its name from Philip Larkin’s famous poem MCMXIV, which reflects on the changes caused by the First World War. The driving force behind Never Such Innocence is Lady Lucy French, great-granddaughter of Field Marshal Sir John French who commanded the British Expeditionary Forces from 1914-15.

The launch of Never Such Innocence was kindly hosted at Australia House in May 2014 with a gala dinner and theatrical performance, blending poetry, prose and music from the Great War, compiled by Dr Martin Stephen. Since our inception we have been dedicated to engaging the nation’s children in the First World War centenary through learning, poetry, art and music.

T: 0207 836 2603
11 Slingsby Place, London,
WC2E 9AB

Never Such Innocence.
Registered Charity Number 1156148 Company Number 8680319

🌟NSI Young Ambassador Sangeun N. has a message for our friends in Korea! 🇰🇷 🕊To find out more about our competition, visit our website, or the link in our bio.

From Futurism to DADA, look at some examples from our archives and see how similar the young people's opinions on war and conflict are to historical art movements. Check the Link in our Bio to read more and find out how to answer the question below ⬇️ “How Can We Prevent Future Wars?” Annual NSI Competition 2024/25 Deadline: 28/02/2025 Stay up to date on the competition by following our social media @neversuch and checking out the link in bio for more resources! #neversuchinnocence #artcompetition #artandexpression #artblog

🌟 "How can we put an end to conflict? “🕊✨ Kanniesh K., our Young Ambassador from Malaysia, has explored this heartfelt question through his powerful artwork. Kanniesh’s piece calls on us to reflect on the impact of war and the importance of peace efforts. 📝Participate in the competition and express your vision for a world without conflict. Translation of the content: Main text (top): "How can we put an end to conflict?" Lower text: Never Such Innocence Young Ambassador

The artist of this new great competition entry shared: "The phrase "free women" can be interpreted in various ways, often symbolizing the liberation and empowerment of women across different societies and contexts. It highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equality, where women seek freedom from societal constraints, economic dependence, and discrimination. This movement encompasses diverse issues such as access to education, reproductive rights, equal pay, and the ability to make personal choices without fear of judgment or violence. The journey toward true freedom for women involves dismantling patriarchal structures and fostering a world where women can thrive as equal participants in all spheres of life. As more voices join the conversation, the vision of a world where all women are free becomes increasingly attainable." Visit our website at neversuchinnocence.com to learn more and take part in the competition. We encourage you to tackle the important question: How can we prevent future wars? Let your ideas inspire change!

NSI at the RSA

Never Such Innocence