Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize 2020 - Open for Submissions

We’re excited to be supporting this excellent artist opportunity for another year running! The Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize is awarded to artists that show significant potential, interesting ideas, a relevant message and skillful execution. We support artists in a similar way, which is reflected in the way we programme our events here at Rich Mix.

We are currently exhibiting 2019 The Art Prize Choice Award Winner Roberto Grosso’s work in the stunning exhibition ‘I Let The Melody Shine’, and have also showcased previous winners work in the past.

Read on to find out more about the prize, and how you can submit your work to be considered.

ENTRY

Open to artists anywhere in the world, entries are accepted in a wide range of media. The deadline for entries is 19 January 2020, with the shortlist to be announced in April 2020 and final winners announced in July 2020. All artists who enter before 15 December 2019 will be eligible for practical and individual feedback on their application to help support them in self representing their practice.

Last year, the Prize again grew in size receiving over 4,450 entries from more than 1,900 artists from around the world including artists from Israel, China, France, Pakistan, Ireland, Ukraine, America, Canada and the UK. The shortlisted and winning artists showed key themes that are representative of the wider idea’s entrants were exploring through their submissions around the current age of the Anthropocene and the man-made and natural worlds – from the exploration of the body, identity and how this is affected by the current cultural climate, to people’s relationship with technology, and the fragility of the human condition, giving a snapshot of what is inspiring emerging artists at present.

Want to take part? Head over to the Art Prize website to submit your work.

Deadline: 19th January 2020, 11:59pm GMT/London Time.

JUDGES

This year Melanie Lenz, curator at the V&A Museum, joins the panel as a judge. Melanie is the curator of Digital Art at the V&A. Based in London, she previously worked at the Barbican Art Gallery and Tate Modern and has over 15 years of experience of curating, commissioning and delivering creative projects.

Josh McNorton, cultural director for Wembley Park (and ex-Head of Programmes here at Rich Mix!), returns to judge for the second year of the new media award, as do independent art advisor Averil Curci and creative director of Genesis Imaging Mark Foxwell who will again judge the Photography Award. They join returning judges Dr David Anfam, senior consulting curator at the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver and author of the catalogue raisonné ‘Mark Rothko: The Works on Canvas’, Howard Lewis, director of the Schorr Collection, and Ashurst partner Anna Delgado. They are also joined by new guest judge Magnus Brooke, director of policy and regulatory affairs at ITV plc.

THE PRIZE

The winner, selected by a judging panel of eminent art experts, collectors and art critics, will receive a £3,000 cash prize and a solo exhibition in the Ashurst Emerging Artists Gallery in London, with the winner of the Sculpture Award receiving a £1,750 cash award and a solo exhibition of their work. There is also the Choice Award of £1,500, chosen by Ashurst employees. Returning for a second year are the £1,500 Photography Award, supported by Genesis Imaging, and the New Media Award of £1,500, for artists who use digital techniques or mediums, with support from Rich Mix.

The prize is also supported by the UK’s leading independent art supplies retailer, Cass Art, who are giving a £500 gift voucher to the winner of the Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize to spend on art supplies, and a £250 gift voucher for the Sculpture Award and £250 for the Choice Award.

The Prize is further complemented by professionally led talks providing practical guidance for artists, an extensive social media presence promoting all entrants and furthermore, all entrants will receive an exclusive 20% discount voucher from Cass Art for art supplies, and 20% discount from Genesis Imaging for art services.