The New Light Prize Exhibition is coming to London next month. In a time when we seem to see art competition with major prizes (£10,000 or more) dropping like flies, it's great to see an art competition which has a very precise focus - and still has a £10,000 prize.
The common thread through all we do is a deep belief that the visual arts matter and the North of England deserves to be celebrated.
What is the New Light Prize?
The New Light Prize is a biennial art exhibition:
- It was established in 2010 to celebrate and promote Northern art - and celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2020
- In the last decade it's become one of the UK's largest open exhibitions of contemporary art, showcasing well-known and emerging artists.
- The exhibition tours art galleries in the UK - with a focus on the north
- You can see the artworks selected for the 2020-21 exhibition on the website. It's always interesting to see what's sold. I'll maybe do an analysis when the exhibition comes south and I've actually seen it....
The Prizes
- £10,000 Valeria Sykes Award – open to all artists over the age of 18 with a connection to the North of England, whether through birth, degree level study or residence.
- £2,500 Patron’s Choice Award – this award will be presented by our patron on the night of the Private View; all exhibited works will be considered.
- Saul Hay Emerging Artists Prize offering mentoring, professional advice and exhibition opportunities.
- Zillah Bell Printmakers’ Prize – all forms of original printmaking are eligible for this prize, the winner of which will be offered a solo exhibition in the Zillah Bell Gallery in Thirsk, which plays host to some of the best printmakers’ shows in the country.
- The tig Visitors’ Choice Award – where visitors will be asked to vote for their favourite work in the Prize Exhibition.
- New Light Purchase Prize – the winner’s work will be purchased by New Light to add to the New Light Collection.
"Winning the New Light Valeria Sykes Award has been such an amazing honour." Artist @_joannawhittle_
— New Light Prize Exhibition (@newlightart) September 30, 2020
was awarded this year's Valeria Sykes Award with 'SORROWING CLOTH'. View her work @SMTrust #northernart @TheYorksTimes pic.twitter.com/w1KPbaKBDx
The Judges for the 2020 Prize were
- Sam Phillips is a London-based arts writer and editor. He is the editor of RA Magazine, published by the Royal Academy of Arts.
- Anne Desmet RA - a world renowned wood engraver who was born and brought up in Liverpool.
- Grant Scanlan - from the Lake District and now responsible for the management and programming of Huddersfield Art Gallery
- Annette Petchey lives in the North and is a lover of art and, in a small way, a collector.
