Art critics don’t have it easy. They work for little pay and often get a lot of flack for issuing their opinions. But disinterested feedback is essential to the health of the industry, so it’s good to see that there are organizations working to help nurture the field with a little cash. To wit, The International Awards for Art Criticism has announced their fourth edition of their annual awards. Three prizes will be awarded—first will receive 10,000 euro for an essay in English or Chinese, and second, their and forth will receive 3,500 euro. The first prize winner will also receive a short paid visit to Shanghai.
Not much is needed in order to qualify. Candidates should submit a review of 1,500 words or 2,000 Chinese characters of any contemporary art exhibition that has taken place around the world. It just needs to have taken place between September 20, 2016 and September 20, 2017. According to the submission guidelines, “There are no restrictions on the contributors, in terms of their age, status or professional background”.
I guess I know what we’re doing before the summer’s up.
Oddly, the jury for this particular panel was announced in the same press release that discusses how the submissions are “adjudicated in strict anonymity by an international panel of high profile experts.” Perhaps they mean the names of the writers are not revealed?
Whatever the case, if you’re an art critic and you want to be considered for a 10,000 euro top prize, the deadline is September 24, 2017.
The full call below. Application form here. Awards organized by the China Minsheng Banking Corporation Ltd. (CMBC),the Shanghai Minsheng Art Museum, the Royal College of Art (RCA), the International Association of Art Critics (AICA) and Shanghai Artemis Art Center (SAAC)
Originality, Diversity and Independence
The Board and Organising Committee of the International Awards for Art Criticism (IAAC) launched the fourth annual edition of their Awards scheme (IAAC 4) at a press conference at Shanghai Minsheng Art Museum on June 2, 2017. At the same time, they announced the names of the new international jury and a notable increase in both the number and value of the awards.
These Awards are explicitly intended to stimulate new critical writing. For the first time only previously unpublished reviews will be eligible for consideration. As Ms. Gan Ziyi, Director of Shanghai Minsheng Art Museum and an additional member of the Organising Committee explained at the press conference:
This year our sponsors have generously increased the value of the Awards so as to maintain their global competitiveness and stimulate new critical writing from different parts of the world.
First prize: 10,000 EUR / 80,000 RMB for an essay in English or Chinese
Three further prizes of 3,500 EUR / 30,000 RMB
Two awards each will go to competitors writing in each of the two languages, Chinese and English. The top prize will go to a competitor writing in either of these languages, whilst the remaining three awards) will go to candidates writing in either language. The top prize winner will also be offered a paid short visit to Shanghai.
These International Awards are open to candidates from anywhere in the world, starting on June 2, 2017.
The deadline for entries is September 24, 2017.
Candidates are invited to write a review of 1,500 words or 2,000 Chinese characters of any exhibition of contemporary art, held anywhere in the world between September 20, 2016 and September 20, 2017. There are no restrictions on the contributors, in terms of their age, status or professional background.
Each year, the Awards are adjudicated in strict anonymity by an international panel of high profile experts. All of these have a thorough knowledge of contemporary artistic creation and critical practice. This year’s jury will be made up of the following:
Antonia Carver, Director of Art Jameel, Dubai
Gong Yan, Director of The Power Station of Art, Shanghai
Tim Marlow, Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Arts, London
Raqs Media Collective, New Delhi
Shen Kuiyi, Professor of Art History, Theory and Criticism, University of California, San Diego
Since the inception of the Awards in 2014, the founders of the IAAC have continuously worked to extend their network and influence. As Henry Meyric Hughes, the Chair of the Board, stated: “This international competition, which is open to all, already has an assured place in the artistic calendar. However, our sponsors’ generosity, in increasing both the number and value of the Awards, underpins its claim to global leadership.” The previous three editions of the IAAC have met with an enthusiastic response from a diverse range of artists, curators, critics, researchers, students and freelance writers. Nearly 800 entries from 47 countries and regions in the world have been received, to date.
The International Awards for Art Criticism (IAAC) are hosted by an international Board, and organised by the China Minsheng Banking Corporation Ltd. (CMBC),the Shanghai Minsheng Art Museum, the Royal College of Art (RCA), the International Association of Art Critics (AICA) and Shanghai Artemis Art Center (SAAC). The principal sponsors are Shanghai Minsheng Art Foundation and Anxin Trust Corporation Ltd. The Awards are also supported by the cultural department of the local government of Shanghai.
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