FAQs - Entering the Emerging Artist Prize

​In this article we answer many of the questions we are getting from previous entrants, new entrants and those considering entering the Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize. Feel free to comment or send us new questions (email us at [email protected]) to answer and we will update this article.
 
QUESTIONS.

I am not based in London, does that matter?
How should I choose artworks to submit and how many?
What are the criteria that you use to pick artworks?
I entered last year and didn’t make it into the shortlist. Should I enter again with the same artworks?
I create sculptures and paintings, what should I enter and am I eligible to win the Sculptor Prize?
What file sizes and formats should I submit?
Are the artist statement and image commentaries important?
I am a sculptor. Am I eligible to win the £3,000 Main Prize?
Does attending your events help with the judging process?
Do you have any restrictions on age?
Are the winning solo exhibitions open to the public?
What tips can you give me to benefit from entering the art prize?
Any tips for filling in the form?
 
ANSWERS.

I am not based in London, does that matter?
                We get entries from around the world including Spain, Brazil, Argentina, China, India, USA, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, Mexico, Denmark, Russia. For example, one of the Shortlisted Artists had their work shipped from Ireland and another from Mexico. Please note that you will have to deliver your artworks to Ashurst’s London office if you are Shortlisted.
 
How should I choose artworks to submit and how many?
                Each artwork entry is treated as a separate entry. So submitting a diverse range of your works is a good idea. For the first stage, to decide the Shortlisted Artists, it is based on an artwork and then after we base it on the artist and possibly their other works. We may contact you to find out more and see more of what you do. So entering more artworks will increase your chances.
 
What are the criteria that you use to pick artworks?
                We are looking for artworks that show skill, an interesting message or concept, and particularly, if we see potential in the artist to develop their ideas and techniques, or haven’t been discovered and deserve to be recognised. Hence, the artwork can be almost anything.
                We have intentionally kept the criteria wide so that we can support creativity rather than just a particular media, theme, background, education, age, etc.
 
I entered last year and didn’t make it into the shortlist. Should I enter again with the same artworks?
                We had many strong entrants and it was hard to shortlist down to 25. Many of you will have received feedback reviews of your submission forms. So we would recommend entering again after improving your submissions based on these comments. We would also recommend submitting additional new artworks or changing the selection slightly, as each is looked at separately.
 
I create sculptures and paintings, what should I enter and am I eligible to win the Sculptor Prize?
                Your entry can be a mixture of types. For example, you could submit 3 paintings and 2 sculptures. In this case all 5 entries will allow you to be considered for the Main Prize and Employee Choice Prize and Ashurst's Rich Mix Prize and 2 of them will additionally allow you to be considered for the Sculptor Prize. As mentioned before, submitting a variety of artworks is recommended.
 
What file sizes and formats should I submit?
                Try to submit the best quality and largest artworks possible, but under 10Mb per file. JPEG is ideal, but we can accept any file format, and at least 1000x1000 pixels is important. The ideal size of image is roughly 2732x2048 pixels. We check each and every artwork photo file so if there are any problems, we will contact you to discuss. Though we can only accept changes before the stated deadline, so early entry is recommended to allow our team time to check your entry carefully and to allow you time to correct issues we email you and send back to us.
 
Are the artist statement and image commentaries important?
                These can be important if the image file isn’t enough to really see the artwork. Also, succinct statements and commentaries can help us more effectively understand the artwork, especially if it is more conceptual. Any clues or ideas to guide us in connecting with the work are useful. You are able to put in weblinks here too, including video links.
 
I am a sculptor. Am I eligible to win the £3,000 Main Prize?
                The Main Prize (£3,500 of prizes and solo exhibition in London, Jul-Sep 2017) and Employee Choice Prize (£1,750 of prizes and solo exhibition in London, Jul-Sep 2017) is open to all entrants including sculptors. The new Ashurst Prize for Rich Mix (£500 cash prize and solo exhibition in the Mezzanine Gallery) is specifically for East London themed artworks or artists living or working in East London, and is open to sculptors too. The additional Sculptor Prize (£1,250 of prizes and solo exhibition in London) is specifically for a sculptor only. It is possible that sculptors win the Main Prize, the Employee Choice Award or the Rich Mix Prize as well as the Sculptor Prize. An entrant can’t win more than one prize.
 
Does attending your events help with the judging process?
                Attending events in person doesn’t affect the judging process with your submission, but will help you a huge amount. They are informative talks to help you in your career, you get to meet other artists to discuss ideas with and collaborate with, you will get to meet some of the judges to ask them any questions and some of my important art professional contacts will be there too (including gallery directors, art advisors and dealers, and collector clients).
 
Do you have any restrictions on age?
                There are no restrictions on age. The ages of the Shortlisted Artists ranged from 18 to 70 in last year’s prize.
 
Are the winning solo exhibitions open to the public?
                The solo exhibitions are viewable by the public by appointment only, and you can contact me on [email protected] to arrange this. There will be numerous talks and events, as well as private events for Ashurst and their clients, which include many global corporations and their employees, a high proportion of which are very interested in art.
 
What tips can you give me to benefit from entering the art prize?
                By entering early, you can benefit from featuring in our social media campaigns and being seen by press following our press campaign drive which starts in mid November. We can potentially promote your upcoming projects too, subject to approval. We are posting on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
                By joining us for our talks, you can gain guidance from experts on building your career with advice on how to get your artwork seen, how to price your art and how to enter art competitions to win. You will also meet art professionals looking for emerging artists and become part of our community.
                By participating in the prize, you will be seen by the judging panel and my art contacts, and hopefully then be invited to work on their projects or be connected better within the art world.
 
Any tips for filling in the form?
                Write a draft for your entry on to a word document and then just copy and paste into form so you have a well checked version spell checked, etc., and if anything goes wrong, you have a copy saved to use again or check for future reference.
                You can put in web links into the Artist Statement and Artwork Commentary boxes, especially if you feel a video link or supporting material would help.
                Keep each commentary succinct and less than 250 words.
                Use great photos, with the artwork clearly photographed (not blurred) and check the colours look correct. If your work is textured then be careful with the lighting.
                More detailed tips can be found in our blog article from a previous talk event… http://www.artprize.co.uk/blog/how-to-win-an-art-prize  
                If you have any problems, you can contact us by email or phone, these are on the entry page here… http://www.artprize.co.uk/entry-form.html
                And lastly, subscribe to our newsletter to get the invites to our exclusive events, receive tips to help your career and keep updated on the Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize 2017.
 
Feel free to comment below or email us with any questions. Good luck!