Posts Tagged ‘Art Prize’

A Bright Future: Victor Pinchuk's New Art Prize

// January 18th, 2010 // View Comments // b-scene

Ukrainian billionaire, philanthropist and avid art collector, Victor Pinchuk has recently announced the inauguration of the “Future Generation Art Prize.” An award aimed at the promotion of future contemporary artists, the prize includes $100,000, the chance to be mentored by the likes of Damien Hirst, Jeff  Koons, Andreas Gursky, and Takashi Murakami, and…oh yeah–international acclaim! Pinchuk has said, “This worldwide contemporary art prize will be an important contribution to the open participation of younger artists in the dynamic cultural development of societies in global transition.”

The contest is pitched to all artists under the age of 35 as an open call — absolutely anyone may submit via an online application form. 20 of these artists will be short-listed and exhibited in a two month long prize exhibition. The winner and five runners-up will be selected by an international jury in Kiev. Board members, in addition to Victor Pinchuk and the four mentor artists,  include art world leaders: Eli Broad, Dakis Joannou, Elton John, Miuccia Prada ,  museum directors: Richard Armstrong (Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and Museum), Glenn D. Lowry (The Museum of Modern Art), Alfred Pacquement (Musée nationale d’art moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou) and Sir Nicholas Serota (Tate). In keeping with the spirit of democracy, Pinchuk has chosen a diverse board but made sure they are all active participants in the contemporary art world.

The goal of the contest, according to the Foundation is “to empower future generations to become the change makers of tomorrow. To achieve this goal, the Foundation develops projects, builds partnerships in Ukraine and worldwide and invests in three directions: Investing in people, to boost human capital; Investing in society, to promote social responsibility; Investing in the world, to foster a more integrated world.” Sounds right up our alley.

The best part though…. as soon as the short-listed artists are selected, images of their works will be posted on the Pinchuk Art Centre website and members of the public will be invited to vote via the internet for the People’s Choice Prize. It’s like X-Factor for the arts!

b-uncut can identify with the goals of this prize – it’s similar in concept to FAIRTRADE for artists – and we are thrilled someone as influential as Pinchuk is taking the initiative to promote the next generation of artists. Looking ahead is key, and online is the future’s platform. The Internet usually makes the world a smaller place by connecting strangers and transferring information at lightening speed, but it has done the opposite for the art world. Typically a closed off you’re-only-as-good-as-the-people-you-know forum, the art world has exploded online. Artists will be recognized for talent first.  Anyone with an internet connection and a laptop will have a chance to be discovered. We like what we are seeing….and can’t wait to vote on the submissions! GOOD LUCK!

The Victor Pinchuk Foundation © 2009. Photographed by Starr Black

American Idol for the Arts: Art Prize

// January 14th, 2010 // View Comments // b-scene

At $250,000, Art Prize offers the single largest cash prize for artists. They are based out of Grand Rapids….Michigan. Random? Yes. But it is such a democratic way to show art —  any artist emerging or established can submit work and the winner is determined by public vote. We’re all art critics now. In this case “good” art really is in the eye of the beholder. Popular opinion is the vote that counts. American Idol for the arts. I can hear the grand poobahs already – Ah plebian, no historical relevance, derivative, well here’s 2009′s winner. What do you think?

Last year’s winner Ran Ortner’s Open Water No. 24

It works a bit differently than other art contests. Venues in Grand Rapids register to be a hosting site for a piece of art work—they choose what artists they would like to exhibit. The artists register and submit their work online—for a $50 registration fee—and wait to be selected. The more venues there are, the more artists that will be shown. All it costs the artist is $50 and a shipping fee to send work to Michigan. Contest starts September 22nd and goes through October 10th 2010.

Top ten artists receive a prize

Before the invention of the internet (did the world exist before internet??) a prize like this might only apply to artists in the Midwestern part of the United States or might not have happened at all.  Sponsored by Rick DeVos, Amway family scion, it most likely would have involved the inevitable curator/museum director/ critic suggested submission and boom the art world machine would have created an immediate barrier. The online web world is tearing those barriers down and now a $250,000 artprize is available for all artists, even if they hadn’t the opportunity to catch Jay Jopling’s attention while at Goldsmith’s. The art world just got a lot more fun. So they can poo poo us online art mavericks but the reality is for $250,000 even a Goldsmith’s graduate will take a chance. Jump on the merry go round because the ride’s just begun….

Last year’s 2nd, 3rd and 4th place winners: