New arts prize is open for entries

19 September 2012 Northumbria University

A major new national arts prize worth £40,000 for emerging artists is now open for entries at Northumbria University.

Keen art collector Mr Wee Teng Woon is funding the prizes at his alma mater in memory of his family, including a top prize - the Woon Tai Jee Art Fellowship – of a £20,000 bursary which will be used to fund the cost of a Fellowship at the BxNU Institute for Contemporary Art at BALTIC 39 in Newcastle. The institute is the result of a collaborative partnership between BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and Northumbria University. The winner will have access to dedicated studio space in Baltic 39 and benefit from a high-profile and experienced mentor.

Mr Woon is also offering other major prizes – the Lim Ai Fang Art Prize worth £9,000 and the Cheong Kam Hee Art Prize worth £6,000. Two consolation prizes valued at £3,000 and £2,000 will also awarded at the discretion of the judging panel.

The Woon Foundation Painting and Sculpture Art Prize is open to all final year undergraduate students of Fine Art in the UK.

Mr Woon, who is a Northumbria Law graduate, lives in Singapore but has maintained strong links with the North East and still has a home in Co. Durham.

He said: “This award is about recognising new talent while also enhancing the standing of the North East in the arts world.

“I wanted to set up an award for emerging artists that complements other major art prizes in the UK and supports their art practice, career and early professional development.”

Dr Heather Robson, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences at Northumbria, added: “This generous offer to emerging talent is a tremendous boost to the arts scene in the North East and will promote the region’s standing in the arts world as well as providing the winner with an unrivalled opportunity to work in a community of academics and artists at the BxNU Institute of Contemporary Art.”

Entries will be judged by a panel of regional, national and international artists, and all those shortlisted will be invited to take part in an exhibition at the University next summer when the winners will be announced.

The Woon Foundation Painting and Sculpture Art Prize will be officially launched during September although entries can be submitted now. The deadline for entries is 30 January 2013.

For more information, or to submit an application, contact Barry Nicholson, from the Region, Engagement and Partnerships Office, on (0191) 227 4651 or email woonartprize@northumbria.ac.uk

The application form can be found at www.northumbria.ac.uk/woonartprize