“The Children are Now”: new exhibition featuring Children’s Parliament

A new exhibition has opened at the Talbot Rice Gallery showcasing the work of international artists, and featuring a collaboration between the Children’s Parliament and artist Bob and Roberta Smith.

The group exhibition, titled The Children are Now, opened on Saturday 25 October; the opening was attended by members from across the sector, including a video message prepared by the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise Natalie Don-Innes.

The Children are Now is themed around ‘the relationship of children to the key challenges that we face today’. Artwork featured includes films, paintings, and other forms of art, some made in collaboration with children and young people and others made to represent the child’s experience. Issues explored include apartheid education, militaristic games, and generational trauma.

The exhibition features pieces from Child Human Rights Defenders, Francis Alÿs, Monster Chetwynd, Ane Hjort Guttu, Kemang Wa Lehulere, Tuan Andrew Nguyen, Mai Nguyễn-Long, and Adéla Součková. Additionally, artist Bob and Roberta Smith (whose well-known piece Letter to Michael Gove is also featured in this exhibition) worked alongside representatives from Scotland’s Children’s Parliament to create artworks based on issues highlighted by children and young people, including climate change, mental health and bullying, and vaping.

The exhibition requires booking but is free to attend, and will run until 7 February 2026. More information can be found on the Talbot Rice Gallery website.