UK’s longest-established painting prize opens for entries on 14 September 2015
The Walker Art Gallery has announced that registration for the John Moores Painting Prize 2016 will open at 09.00 on Monday 14 September 2015.
The much-anticipated announcement is an important date for artists across the UK, who are invited to submit their work for judging in the country’s longest-established prize for artists working with the medium of paint.
Established in 1957, the internationally-renowned Prize, organised in partnership with the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition Trust, has championed contemporary British painting for almost 60 years; more than two decades longer than any other art prize of its scale.
Past winners include David Hockney (1967), Mary Martin (1969), Peter Doig (1993) and Keith Coventry (2010). Sir Peter Blake, winner of the Junior Prize in 1961, is the first Patron of the Prize.
Sandra Penketh, Director of Art Galleries at National Museums Liverpool, said: “In many ways, the Prize has come to represent what is interesting, important and above all exciting about contemporary painting in Britain today. It has also provided a springboard to launch the careers of some of the UK’s most talented artists.
“We received more than 2,500 entries for the 2014 Prize, which the judging panel painstakingly narrowed down to a shortlist of works of the very highest calibre. We look forward to receiving an equally inspiring and eclectic selection of entries this year.”
The winner of the prestigious first prize in 2014 was Rose Wylie with her striking work, PV Windows and Floorboards.
The entries will be judged anonymously by an esteemed panel of judges, soon to be announced. The judges will select a final shortlist of five paintings from which the £25,000 first prize winning work will be chosen and four additional prizes of £2,500 will be awarded.
A selection of shortlisted works will be displayed in the renowned John Moores Painting Prize exhibition, held at the Walker Art Gallery biennially. Exhibition visitors will also be invited to vote for their favourite painting to win the popular Visitors’ Choice Award. The winning artist will receive £2,016.
To enter the competition, artists should visit liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/johnmoores, where the full terms and conditions of entry are listed.
The deadline to enter online is 9 November 2015 at 12 noon.
Artists must submit images of their painting by 16 November 2015 at 12 noon.
Entrants can also sign up to receive emails providing the latest information on the John Moores Painting Prize, or follow the Prize on Facebook and Twitter (@JMPaintingPrize) for regular updates.
The John Moores Painting Prize is organised in partnership with the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition Trust and is supported by our exhibition partner Weightmans. The Prize is showing as part of Liverpool Biennial 2016 festival of contemporary art, one of the world’s leading Biennials taking place from 9 July to 16 October.