Art World Greats Look for London’s Newest Talent Through UpStArt Competition
(PRWEB UK) 18 July 2014 -- Culture Minister Ed Vaizey has thrown his support behind a new art competition established by two South London teenagers.
UpStArt, created in partnership with anti-prejudice charity the Anne Frank Trust, is aimed at artists who are either entering Year 13 in September or who have just completed the year. The initial idea came from two Chelsea schoolgirls, sisters Isabella and Natasha Tagliaferri.
The St Paul’s School pupils, who aren’t artists themselves, were looking at the work of A-Level art students in their school and thought that it deserved to have a profile beyond the classroom.
Isabella, 16, said, "We also wanted to encourage students to think about charity so this prompted us to develop the concept behind UpStArt and to approach the Anne Frank Trust to turn the idea into a student art charity event.”
Isabella and Natasha, 14, chose the Anne Frank Trust because it is a charity which uses schoolchildren as ambassadors to combat prejudice and discrimination among all ethnic and social groups.
The competition aimed at students in Greater London, culminates in an exhibition and auction at the Strand Gallery at the end of the year, with the proceeds of sales being split between the artists and the charity. With a judging panel comprised of the great and good of the art world including artist Bip Ling and curators from the Saatchi and Whitechapel art galleries, competing artists will have the opportunity to have their work seen by the people who matter.
The prizes include £1,000 cash, thanks to Opera Gallery and Landview Properties, £500 Cass Art vouchers and work experience at UK Greetings. For the winning schools, there are master-classes with graffiti artist Nick Walker, Beano artist Kev F and graphic novelist Sarah Lightman.
Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said: "The UpStArt initiative is a brilliant way of celebrating the passionate creativity of young artists. The scheme offers the artists of tomorrow a chance to showcase their abilities to leading figures from the UK art scene, and I encourage all our budding artists to get involved in what promises to be a fantastic competition."
It couldn’t be easier to take part as you can enter up to three pieces of art from your existing body of work. There is no theme, no entry fee, and entries are now open online. You simply have to take a photo of your art and upload to the UpStArt site http://www.up-start.co.uk.
The panel of more than 30 judges includes Chief Curator at Saatchi Art Rebecca Wilson; Selina Levinson from the Whitechapel Gallery; Kate Bryan at the Fine Art Society; Nicky Wheeler and Romy Westwood of the Affordable Art Fair, as well as several established artists including Nick and Rob Carter, Nick Walker and Nick Gentry . Also featured on the panel are the principals and deans of most of the leading fine art colleges in London and a selection of critics, publicists and art bloggers.
Up to 33 finalists will take part in the exhibition and auction. Three winners will be chosen, one by the judging panel, one by the public and the third will be the artist who receives the highest bid at auction.
"We hope students will embrace the opportunity to showcase their art and help the mission of the Anne Frank Trust to create a world without hatred, prejudice and discrimination,” added Isabella.
Jessie Jason, UpStArt, http://up-start.co.uk/, 07385 400 400, [email protected]
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