Children Are Now!

A collaboration between Children’s Parliament and Talbot Rice Gallery

Child Human Rights Defenders at Edinburgh College of Art following their residential weekend creating placards for Talbot Rice Gallery with Bob and Roberta Smith.

Twelve Members of Children’s Parliament joined a fun residential with the amazing artist Bob and Roberta Smith and the Talbot Rice Gallery team in Edinburgh. Together, they made 38 colourful placards inspired by your Calls to Action:

Vaping

Vaping

You said children need protection from harm and honest information to help understand the dangers of vaping.

Climate crisis education

Climate Crisis Education

You said learning about the planet, climate change and how it affects Scotland should be part of every school day.

Mental health and bullying

Mental Health and Bullying in Schools

You said schools should be safe and kind places for everyone.

Now, children’s voices from across Scotland are part of the The Children Are Now exhibition at the Talbot Rice Gallery in Edinburgh. The exhibition opens on the 28th October 2025 and runs until 7th February 2026.

In the gallery, people from anywhere can see the powerful messages that children across Scotland helped create, alongside artworks by famous artists, showing just how important children’s ideas are in shaping our world.


Children in galleries – your voices belong there too!

Art galleries aren’t just for adults; they’re for children too!
 When children visit galleries, they bring new ideas, fresh eyes, and big questions.

Going to a gallery is a way to:

  • Explore art that connects to your own life and ideas
  • Talk about big topics, like kindness or the planet or elephants
  • Be inspired to create your own art and express what matters to you
Children create art that is meaningful and vital to the understanding of our world.

So next time you visit a gallery, remember, your ideas and opinions belong there just as much as anyone else’s.


A huge
thank you

Thank you to Members of Children’s Parliament across Scotland who shared their ideas and helped shape our calls to action. You spoke up about the things that matter most to children and your voice has been heard.

And a huge thank you to all the Child Human Rights Defenders and every child who contributed. Your creativity, courage, and kindness continue to make Scotland a healthy, happy and safe place for every child.


We would also like to thank Bob and Roberta Smith, the Talbot Rice Gallery and Museum Galleries Scotland for making our participation in the Children Are Now! exhibition possible.

For more information about our Child Human Rights Defenders work, please visit their webpage here: childrensparliament.org.uk/child-human-rights-defenders/

Date: 21st October 2025
Previous