Photo: Andy Wilkes on Flickr
Artists are being encouraged to submit entries for a £40,000 award, which will partner them with residents of the Olympic boroughs to create a new artwork.
Hackney Council are asking for artists living or working in the borough to enter the CREATE Art Award, sponsored by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. The award helps artists to deliver artwork that gives residents in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, as well as the other Olympic boroughs Newham, Waltham Forest and Barking the chance to get involved with major arts projects.
The winning submission will be made a reality and showcased during the CREATE festival in summer 2011. The annual festival celebrates arts and culture in the six host boroughs in the lead up to the 2012 Olympic Games.
Speaking on behalf of the Host Borough Cultural Partnership Board, who run CREATE, Cllr Guy Nicholson, Hackney’s cabinet member for regeneration and the Olympics, said: “The CREATE Art Award recognises and promotes the great creative talent that is flourishing across the host borough’s in east and south east London.
“This is a great opportunity for artists in our borough to submit their ideas into what is fast becoming the only award for the arts in the UK that truly recognises the powerful link between great expression and participation,” he added.
The award is now in its fourth year and was launched by the host boroughs in 2008 in association with Arts Council England and the Whitechapel Gallery.
Last year’s winner was Hackney artist Robin Turner with his art project, ROAM, a converted library van which gave people in the boroughs the chance to enjoy writing workshops, nature photography, local history talks and music performances.
Each evening of last year’s CREATE festival, Roam became the smallest arts space in London presenting acoustic gigs, DJ sets and audio installations, as well as readings and talks from local authors on east London’s art and history.
Proposals from artists working in all media are welcomed, the final piece must be participatory and can be permanent or temporary.
Applications for the CREATE Art Award 2011 must be received by 5pm on January 14. For more details and an application form, contact: artaward@host-boroughs.org.uk or visit: www.createlondon.org
