15/10/2026
Winners Announced for the 2026 AOP Emerging Talent Award – Supporting Photographers at the Start of their Photographic Career.
Ritchie Elder’s series 'Saturday School' won the silver prize for the AOP's 2026 Emerging Talent Awards, documenting the final day of the school term at the Ukrainian Saturday School at Leith Academy. Established more than three years ago, the school is the fi rst of its kind in Scotland. It provides Ukrainian children displaced by the war with the opportunity to learn Ukrainian language, culture, and history alongside their mainstream education and plays an important role in helping young people maintain a connection to their heritage while building new lives in Scotland. Elder worked closely with the children, their parents, and school staff to create this series. Saturday School forms part of a wider documentary project developed in collaboration with the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, documenting Ukrainian culture and community life across Scotland.
Kim Pappas, Agent, Process Artist Management and 2026 Judge, says of the work, “There is a real tenderness to the Saturday School portraits, and the way the light falls on the young subjects is beautiful. A good portrait is emotive and moving - and I think this series touched us all."
Khaly Nguyen, Marketing Director, BUILDHOLLYWOOD, says of the Award, “Emerging photographers bring fresh perspectives and new ways of seeing the world. At BUILDHOLLYWOOD, we’re proud to support the AOP Emerging Talent Award and give the next generation of creative voices a platform on the streets..."
Sponsored by BUILDHOLLYWOOD , Wex Photo Video and supported by Genesis Imaging. In addition, co-sponsor Wex Photo Video will exhibit all finalists’ work onsite at their Putney store location in London.
©️ Ritchie Elder
