New Emerging Art Prize Unveiled by New Blood Art

In partnership with various UK art colleges and universities, The New Blood Art Emerging Art Prize is launching, to recognize and celebrate the most exciting emerging artists graduating from these institutions annually. This unique prize is set to platform approximately 150 of the most exceptional emerging artists across the UK, providing an unparalleled opportunity to view a diverse range of contemporary art from the start of these artists’ careers.

The prize’s launch in 2023 builds on the principles of the gallery’s establishment in 2004, which sought to support young artists transitioning out of art school by making gallery representation more accessible. The gallery’s reputation for launching the careers of emerging artists in their early stages has grown significantly over the past 19 years, with the annual introduction of new artists to the collector base and garnering attention from various publications.

For Sarah Ryan, the founder and director, the degree show has been a really significant time of the year: the chance to meet with artists and their tutors and discover brilliant work. The prize will thus invite heads of Fine Art degree programmes across the UK to nominate the outstanding graduating artist(s) in their year, whose future practice they’re excited about. The nominated artists will be invited to exhibit in a physical group show later in the year, with the gallery covering their work’s shipping and installation costs to make it accessible to all graduating artists.

In addition to gallery representation and the group show, all shortlisted artists will have Artsy profiles created to showcase their work, and a notable panel of art world professionals will select the overall winner. The winner will receive an immersive 4-week art residency at SPUD in the New Forest (with travel and living expenses paid), a solo show in 2024, and weekly one-to-one mentoring with Sarah (online).