Calling for entries
Exhibition at The Garrison Chapel, Chelsea Barracks, in central London and at The Waterfront Gallery, in Milford Haven, Wales.
Prize fund worth £15,000, including a top prize of £3,000.
Open call for works in 2D or 3D by artists based in the UK or internationally.
Deadline for entries: Monday 2 December 2024, 5PM.
Link to enter: https://artopps.co.uk/opportunities/walescontemporary-24
Developed in 2019 by the Waterfront Gallery with the support of the Welsh Government and the Port of Milford Haven, and now in its fifth instalment, Wales Contemporary gives artists the opportunity to show their work in central London and Milford Haven, Wales, and receive prizes totalling £15,000.
The open call invites artists based in the UK and internationally to enter work in 2D or 3D in any subject matter. Accepted mediums include painting, sculpture, drawing, print, ceramic, glass, textile, collage, mixed media, and more.
Shortlisted works will be shown in the Wales Contemporary exhibition, at The Garrison Chapel, Chelsea Barracks in Central London and at the Waterfront Gallery, Milford Haven, Wales. A total of £15,000 will be awarded to selected artists, including the Graham Sutherland Prize, a top prize of £3,000.
The prize fund totals £15,000, including the Open Prize, (The Graham Sutherland Prize) worth £3,000, as well as:
Two-dimensional prizes:
- 1st Prize: £2,000
- 2nd Prize: £1,000
- 3rd Prize: £500
Three-dimensional prizes:
- 1st Prize: £2,000
- 2nd Prize: £1,000
- 3rd Prize: £500
Welsh Prize:
- 1st Prize: £2,000
- 2nd Prize: £1,000
Public Choice prizes:
- London Prize: £1,000
- Milford Haven Prize: £1,000
The shortlist and award winners will be chosen by a selection panel comprising:
- Ian ‘H’ Watkins, performer and artist: Ian ‘H’ Watkins, known as H from the British pop group ‘Steps’, is also an accomplished painter. Originally from the Rhondda, South Wales, Ian was set to study at Cardiff Art School before joining Steps in 1997. Inspired by landscapes, his paintings are now showcased in multiple galleries across the UK.
- Kelvin Okafor, artist: Kelvin Okafor is a Fine Art graduate from Middlesex University, celebrated for his hyper-realistic pencil drawings. With an extensive portfolio and social media presence, Kelvin’s art has been widely recognised, including appearances on BBC London. His meticulous attention to tone and texture continues to impress art communities across the UK.
- Katherine Jones RA, artist: Katherine Jones, based in South London, is an award-winning printmaker and painter. She holds a BA from Cambridge School of Art and an MA from Camberwell College of Art, and lectures at Middlesex University. Her multi-layered prints, blending hyper-real and folkloric themes, are part of international collections such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and Yale University.
Wales Contemporary / Cymru Gyfoes has established a strong reputation for championing and rewarding contemporary artists, throughout a wide range of prizes and an exhibition promising to inspire diverse audiences of art lovers.
All artists aged 18 and over are invited to submit 2D or 3D artworks in any medium – excluding photography, digital prints or film. 2D works may be up to 240cm in any dimension. For 3-dimensional work the maximum size is 70cm in any dimension. There is no minimum size limit. The submission fee is £15 for one work, £25 for two and £30 for three.
Artists can submit their work until the deadline, Monday 2 December 2024, 5PM via https://artopps.co.uk/opportunities/walescontemporary-24
All shortlisted artworks will be available to see in the Wales Contemporary exhibition across two venues, The Garrison Chapel, Chelsea Barracks in Central London and the Waterfront Gallery, Milford Haven, Wales.
Key dates:
- Exhibition Private View at the Garrison Chapel: Tuesday, 25 February, 2025, 4pm – 8pm
- Exhibition open to the public: Wednesday 26 February 2025, 11am – 6pm
- Prize giving event: Saturday 1 March 2025, St David’s Day, 2-5pm
- Exhibition closes at The Garrison Chapel, Public Choice Award announced: Sunday 9 March 2025, 4.30pm
- Exhibition opens at The Waterfront Gallery, Milford Haven: Friday 21 March 2025
- Exhibition closes at The Waterfront Gallery, Milford Haven, Public Choice Award announced Sunday 17 May 2025, 4.30pm
For press enquiries, please contact Marine Costello at Parker Harris:
T: 020 3653 0891
E: marine@parkerharris.co.uk
For all other enquiries, please contact Parker Harris:
T: 020 3653 0896
E: info@parkerharris.co.uk
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Notes to Editors
The Waterfront Gallery
Housed in the Old Sail Loft at Milford Docks on the Haven Waterway in Pembrokeshire, the Waterfront Gallery is one of south west Wales’ leading art galleries, showing Fine Art paintings in watercolour, oil, acrylic and mixed media, alongside drawings, prints, sculpture, ceramics, pottery, wood & metal work, textiles, glasswork and jewellery. The unique 3,000 square foot gallery space showcases the work of some 50 local artists and craft workers with 6 changing exhibitions throughout the year; work by resident exhibitors is displayed throughout the year. The Waterfront gallery is a registered charity, and not-for-profit company, dedicated to promoting and supporting resident artists, visiting artists, and emerging talent, in South West Wales.
www.thewaterfrontgallery.co.uk
The Garrison Chapel, Chelsea Barracks
At the heart of London’s Chelsea Barracks development, nestled just behind the creatively vibrant Pimlico Road, sits The Garrison Chapel; the last remaining building of the original 19th-Century complex. The King’s Foundation occupies the Grade II-listed Garrison Chapel in the former Chelsea Barracks, to publicly exhibit elements of The Foundation’s work. Exhibitions have a particular emphasis on traditional arts and heritage craft skills, in addition to a number of special exhibitions and events. The chapel hosts a range of events, classes and functions, widely accessible for all to encourage connectivity in the community - ensuring that the Chapel continues to play a pivotal role in the neighbourhood and beyond.
https://www.chelseabarracks.com/visit/garrison-chapel
Parker Harris
Emma Parker and Penny Harris created Parker Harris in 1990. Their partnership is now one of the leading visual arts consultancies in the UK. A small dynamic team, they pride themselves in expert creation and project management of visual arts projects spanning all disciplines and all scales. Their clients range from trusts and foundations, SMEs and multinationals to charities, arts organisations and individual artists.
Port of Milford Haven
The Port of Milford Haven is the UK’s top energy port and Wales’ busiest port handling around 20% of Britain’s seaborne trade in oil and gas. It is widely recognised in the industry as the energy capital of the UK. The Port, along with the cluster of energy-related businesses along the Waterway, is a key driver of economic activity in Pembrokeshire, attracting inward investment and supporting over 4,000 jobs.