ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY OF ART & ARCHITECTURE PRESS RELEASE
RSA NEW CONTEMPORARIES PRIZES SOAR TO OVER £40k! New £10,000 residency award from Glenfiddich RSA New Contemporaries 2015 14th March – 8th April RSA Building, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL The Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture is pleased to announce a new award partnership with William Grant & Sons for RSA NEW CONTEMPORARIES 2015. This significant prize incorporates a paid residency at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, a significant production fee, exhibition opportunity and artwork accessioned into the William Grant & Sons Art Collection. One artist will be selected from RSA New Contemporaries to spend three months at the Glenfiddich Distillery, working from a fully serviced house and studio whilst benefitting from a monthly stipend of £1400. An additional £5800 will be made available towards production of new work, which will be exhibited at the distillery gallery, part of a major Highland destination that receives 75,000 visitors annually. The Glenfiddich Artists in Residence programme is well-established. Since 2002 it has worked with 100 artists from 20 different countries, each having spent three months in residence at the distillery. Over the years the residency has attracted artists working in a wide range of media including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, printmaking, graffiti, film and digital. The programme has become widely acclaimed in the art world for providing artists with an original setting, space and community in which to work. Past residents include Christine Borland, Louise Hopkins, Alison Watt, Damian Moppett, Mao Yan and Valay Shende. ABOUT THE EXHIBITION The seventh annual RSA NEW CONTEMPORARIES exhibition will take place at the Royal Scottish Academy Galleries in Edinburgh from 14 March to 8 April 2015. Showcasing 73 graduates selected from the degree shows in 2014; this carefully curated exhibition offers a unique opportunity to see the best of Scotland’s emerging talent under one roof. The selection was made by exhibition convener Edward Summerton RSA, with assistance from fellow academicians and representatives from the five main colleges of art. This year the six Scottish schools of architecture have each put forward a selection of candidates to work with architecture convenor Fergus Purdie RSA (Elect). The graduates are given the opportunity to launch their career at the prestigious RSA galleries by exhibiting a substantial body of new work; including painting, sculpture, film making, photography, printmaking, architecture and installation. NEW SCOTTISH ARTISTS at the Fleming Collection, London A selection of works from the RSA New Contemporaries exhibition will be shown at the Fleming Collection in London in the second annual New Scottish Artists exhibition, the full title of which is New Scottish Artists: a Royal Scottish Academy exhibition supported by the Fleming-Wyfold Foundation. The recipient of the Glenfiddich Residency Award will automatically be selected as one of the exhibiting artists. The exhibition runs from 21 April to 24 June 2015 and will provide a significant platform for new Scottish artists in London. RSA NEW CONTEMPORARIES represents the RSA’s commitment to supporting and presenting the best contemporary work in Scotland. The RSA team works closely with the artists and architects towards developing a
lasting relationship in the lead up to the exhibition and beyond. With over £40,000 worth of monetary, residency, studio and purchase prizes, the development of this exhibition is an important initiative for emerging artists in Scotland, enabling a ‘first exhibition’ opportunity for some 60+ emergent artists annually. The RSA are delighted to announce that Walter Scott will be Exhibition Patron and, for the seventh consecutive year, The Skinny will be our Media Partner. “The RSA is to be commended for providing recent graduates with the opportunity to show their work in such a high-profile venue at the start of their careers.” Jim Birrell, Head of Painting & Printmaking, Glasgow School of Art. -ENDSNotes for editors: List of RSA New Contemporaries exhibition awards: *SOME OF THESE AWARDS ARE STILL TO BE CONFIRMED FOR 2015*
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THE FLEMING-WYFOLD BURSARY (£10,000 plus £4,000 bursary, 1 year mentoring, work purchased for the Fleming Collection and automatic entry into New Scottish Artists at the Fleming Collection.)
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THE GLENFIDDICH ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE AWARD (£10,000 residency plus exhibition, work accessioned for Glenfiddich Collection and automatic entry into New Scottish Artists at the Fleming Collection.)
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THE STEVENSTON AWARD (£5,000 for a painter of merit)
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FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY AWARD (£1000)
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RSA ART PRIZE (£400 plus the Maclaine Watters Medal)
WALTER SCOTT GLOBAL INVESTMENT AWARD (£2,000 plus purchase for work in any category) RSA SIR WILLIAM GILLIES BEQUEST AWARD (£2000)
RSA ART PRIZE (£400 for any category) RSA ARCHITECTURE PRIZE (£400) RSA CARNEGIE SCHOLARSHIP (£200 for painting) RSA ADAM BRUCE THOMSON AWARD (£150 for any category) RSA LANDSCAPE AWARD (£150 for a drawing, oil or watercolour) RSA CHALMERS BURSARY (£150 for any category) RSA STUART PRIZE (£150 for any category) RSA CHALMERS-JERVISE PRIZE (£150 for any category) ART IN HEALTHCARE PURCHASE PRIZE (Purchase of up to £2000. Funded by the Hope Scott Trust) DAVID & JUNE GORDON MEMORIAL TRUST AWARDS (£800 for artists born or studying in the Grampian region)
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EDINBURGH PRINTMAKERS AWARD (For a printmaking course, 3 months associate membership and 1 month’s free use of the studio.)
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EDINBURGH SCULPTURE WORKSHOP GRADUATE RESEARCH AWARD (A residency for one month in one of the ESW’s Project Spaces including a fee of £150 for production costs, training and support, the opportunity for a public event and free membership for one year.)
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GLASGOW PRINT STUDIO AWARD (Membership and session fees for one year) PEACOCK VISUAL ARTS AWARD FOR MOVING IMAGE
(For six months free access to Peacock’s digital facility)
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THE SKINNY AWARD IN ASSOCIATION WITH CCA A selected artist will receive a multi-platform award including guaranteed exposure in The Skinny magazine's Showcase in print and online, and an exhibition in Glasgow's CCA in spring 2015. The Skinny also provides a bespoke launch event and accompanying publicity campaign for the exhibition.
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THE SMART GALLERY EXHIBITION AWARD For a solo exhibition at The SMART Gallery in 2015
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THE NICOLE PORTER GALLERY AWARD For an exhibition at the Nicole Porter Gallery
About the Royal Scottish Academy: Established in 1826, the Royal Scottish Academy maintains a unique position in Scotland as an independent, privately-funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose sole purpose is to promote and support contemporary Scottish art. In addition to our exhibitions programme, a fundamental role of the RSA is the developmental support of artists towards the creation of new work. Together with partner funders, the RSA disburses over £250,000 worth of funds to artists at all stages of their careers, through the sales of works, monetary awards, scholarships and residencies each year, in addition to a host of in-kind exhibition, technical access, and studio memberships. For further information about the RSA visit www.royalscottishacademy.org RSA on social media: Facebook: http://on.fb.me/Zpuwmr Twitter: @RoyalScotAcad Hashtags: #RSAnewcontemporaries / #RSAnewcontemps For further information or images please contact: Andrew Goring, Gallery & Communications Coordinator, The Royal Scottish Academy on 0131 624 6556 or press@royalscottishacademy.org The Royal Scottish Academy is a charity registered in Scotland (No. SC004198) Registered address: The RSA, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL