Today, global creative company, M&C Saatchi Group and London’s iconic Saatchi Gallery have launched a new international art initiative – the annual Art for Change Prize.
Moray MacLennan, M&C Saatchi CEO, comments: “Ourpartnership with the Saatchi Gallery is about providing meaningful support for emerging artists, globally. It is also about having a positive impacton society, because that’s what art can do, create Meaningful Change.
Paul Foster, Saatchi Gallery Director, adds: “Art has the ability to help us understand ourselves; explore the issues we face as individuals and as a species; and to contribute fresh ideas for the future. We need those ideas more than ever. We need visionary artists and their creativity more than ever. Our aim is to nurture and develop this prize so that new voices from around the world are heard and progress might be realised.
As part of this shared mission in making art, culture, and creativity accessible to everyone, this free-to-enter prize is acelebration of emerging artistic talent. It will highlight and stimulate dialogue around visual arts as a medium for positive global and social change and give exposure to emerging artists worldwide.’
With the concept of Art for Change in mind, this year’s prize invites emerging artists from around the world to creatively respond to the theme of ‘Equality.’
A total prize fund of £20,000 will be split between six regional winners, five to receive £2,000 each and one overall winner to receive £10,000. All artists will exhibit their winning works in a dedicated exhibition at Saatchi Gallery, a recognised authority in contemporary art, where the overall winner will be announced.
Applications will be invited through an open call online and the prize is available to emerging artists based in the following M&C Saatchi key global regions UK, Europe, Americas, Asia, Australia, and Africa. A winner from each location will be decided by some of the best business and creative minds from M&C Saatchi Group globally and eminent guest judges. Judges include:
UK: Ben Golik, Chief Creative Offer at M&C Saatchi London, Darren Bowles, Partner & Executive Creative Director at Re, Part of M&C Saatchi Group, June Sarpong OBE, Author & Broadcaster.
Europe: Andrei Kaigorodov, Creative Strategist at M&C Saatchi Milan, Klara Eide, Partner & Executive Strategy Director at M&C Saatchi Stockholm, Daniel Sundin, Founder of Litz Art Space Stockholm & Partner & Account Director at M&C Saatchi Stockholm.
Americas: Nicholos Rotondi, Executive Creative Director at M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment North America, Lucas Crigler, Creative Director at SS+K, Part of M&C Saatchi Group, Andre Bato, Founder, Director & Creative Director at Andre Bato Corp.
Africa: Neo Mashigo, Chief Creative Officer at M&C Saatchi Abel South Africa, Robert Grace, Founding Partner and Head of Strategy at M&C Saatchi Abel South Africa, Mary Corrigal, Founder of Corrigall & Co & African Art Consultant.
Asia: Ali Shabaz, Chief Creative Officer at M&C Saatchi Singapore, Tony Liu, Chief Creative Officer at M&C Saatchi aeiou Shanghai, Circe Henestrosa, Fashion Curator & Head of the School of Fashion at Lasalle College of the Arts Singapore.
Australia: Emma Robbins, Executive Creative Director at M&C Saatchi Melbourne, Mandie van der Merwe, Executive Creative Director at M&C Saatchi Sydney, Blak Douglas, Artist and 2022 Archibald Prize Winner.
One overall winner will then be chose by a grand jury, still to be announced, led by Saatchi Gallery.
To apply, artists must be aged 18 or over, within the first five years of what they hope will be a successful artistic career and be working in one or more of the following media: painting, drawing, illustration, photogrpahy, collage, 2D mixed- media, video or film.
Key Dates:
Call for entries open: Thursday 14 July 2022
Deadline for entries: Thursday 8 September 2022, 11.59pm UK BST
Regional winners announced: Friday 28 October 2022
Overall winner announced: Wednesday 7 December 2022
Exhibition dates: Thursday 8 December 2022 – Friday 6 January 2023
For more information and to enter visit www.mcsaatchi.com/artforchangeprize
-ENDS-
About M&C Saatchi group
M&C Saatchi Group is a creative company that connects specialist expertise, fuelled by data, technology and culture, to help clients navigate, create and lead meaningful change. The Group operates across five core divisions: Connected Creativity; Passion Marketing; Global and Social Issues, Brand, Experience & Innovation; and Performance Media. Headquartered in London, operations span 23 countries with major hubs in the UK, Europe, US, Middle East & Africa, Asia and Australia. M&C Saatchi Group’s two principles, Diversity of Thought and Brutal Simplicity of Thought, guide how they build teams andsolve problems.
It is listed as ‘M&C Saatchi PLC’ (LON:SAA) on the AIM stock exchange in London
www.mcsaatchi.com
About Saatchi gallery
Since 1985, Saatchi Gallery has provided an innovative platform for contemporary art. Exhibitions have presented works by largely unseen young artists, or by international artists whose work has been rarely or never exhibited in the UK. This approach has made the Gallery one of the most recognised names in contemporary art. Since moving to its current 70,000 square feet space in the Duke of York’s Headquarters in Chelsea, London, the Gallery has welcomed over 10 million visitors. The Gallery hosts over 5,000 schools visits annually and has over 6 million followers on social media. In 2019 Saatchi Gallery became a charity, beginning a new chapter in its history.
Instagram/Twitter/TikTok:@saatchi_gallery
Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4RY
Saatchi Gallery Registered Charity No. 1182328