Global recruitment group Robert Walters launches national art award in partnership with Saatchi Gallery and UK Young Artists
Three organisations are joining together to help a new generation of UK young artists to launch their careers.
The inaugural Robert Walters Group UK Young Artist of the Year Award in partnership with Saatchi Gallery and charity UK Young Artists (UKYA) will discover and champion exceptional artists who are representative of contemporary Britain.
The brief to artists: Diversity will challenge artists up and down the country who represent the UK’s richly diverse population to embody the experiences of their community and help start important conversations in the UK art scene and beyond.
Judges will include Philippa Adams – Senior Director of Saatchi Gallery, Robert Walters – art collector and CEO of Robert Walters Group, Gavin Turk – artist, Michael Forbes – artist, and Rosalind Davis an artist, writer and UKYA alumni.
Deadline for entries is 1st September 2019. The shortlisted 10 will have their work exhibited at the renowned Saatchi Gallery in London at an awards ceremony on 7th October 2019.
The winner will receive a cash prize of £10,000 and the artist’s work will be shown at the Robert Walters Group head office in Covent Garden for 12 months and at an international art event with UKYA in 2020.
The runner-up will receive £5,000 to help fund their future artistic career.
Robert Walters, CEO of Robert Walters Group comments:
“Providing opportunities for ambitious professionals to achieve their potential is the foundation of our business and so we are proud to announce this new Award. We believe it will help launch the careers of the next generation of exceptional UK artists.”
Michelle Bowen, Director, UKYA adds:
“For the last ten years UKYA has championed and supported young artists from all backgrounds living and working in the UK. We are delighted this new partnership with Robert Walters Group and Saatchi Gallery will help uncover new talent and further develop our mission to promote a vibrant and diverse creative future for the UK.”
Philly Adams, Director, Saatchi Gallery remarks:
“As Saatchi Gallery continues to strive to provide an innovative forum, I am excited to announce a new partnership with Robert Walters and UKYA to provide a platform dedicated to developing the careers of UK’s diverse young talent. This Award will showcase the creative potential of young artists and foster discussions surrounding their relationship to their community”
To be eligible for entry artists must be aged 18–30 years and be allowed to work or study in the UK at the time of making the submission. Within the brief of Diversity judges will be looking for works which reflect the following:
- Diversity of Experience: We’re looking for artists who represent the UK’s richly diverse population and embody the experiences of their community.
- Diversity of Expression: We’re looking for artists who create bold, unique pieces of art that reveal their own perspectives and experiences.
- Diversity of Thought: We’re looking for artists who represent unique viewpoints and will help start new conversations in the UK art scene.
Artists should be working within the following fields:
- Applied arts: ceramics, glass, textiles, jewellery
- Digital Art & Moving image: Film & artist video
- Fine Arts: fine art, painting, printmaking, photography, installation and sculpture.
For more information about the Robert Walters Group UK Young Artist of the Year Award click here.