Great opportunity for young artists
3 February 2012
Calling all young budding artists...
Added: 3/02/2012
Avon and Somerset Police are hosting the West Country's answer to The Turner Prize! Following the success of their Live and Unsigned music competition, the Constabulary are hosting a new contest for 2012. The Clean Slate Art Competition will be open to all young budding artists, between the ages of 13 – 19, and will be calling on painters, potters, sculptors, aerosol artists, photographers, illustrators and installation artists to name a few!
The competition will begin in March with a series of workshops led by a range of artists to help any budding Hirsts, Hockneys and Holbeins get their creative juices flowing and prepare their pieces.
There will then be six exhibitions across Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath where the artists can submit and show their work.
At each exhibition, a panel of judges will select the best of the West's young talent, whose work will then be show in a month long exhibition at The Royal West of England Academy (RWA) in Bristol. A winner from each medium and an overall winner will then be selected for the grand prize. Throughout the competition other workshops and activities will be taking place to promote local talent.
Chief Constable Colin Port said: "Young people are our future and, as in previous years with our Live and Unsigned events, I am keen to seize any opportunity that helps us continue to strengthen our relationship with them and allows them to promote and develop their talents. I am enormously grateful to the Royal West of England Academy who share our belief in young people. It is important that young people know we will celebrate their successes, be there to support them when they need us, provide guidance to aid them in making positive life choices and that we are absolutely committed to ensuring their safety and welfare. Throughout Live and Unsigned, I was overwhelmed by the talent on show and the commitment and dedication of the young bands to their music. This year, it is an opportunity to demonstrate the talents of young people through a different medium. I am looking forward to the exhibitions."
Clean Slate will be run in the place of Live and Unsigned in 2012 whilst the Glastonbury Festival takes a well-earned break. With "money can't buy prizes", exhibition opportunities and celebrity guests the competition is a must for any emerging talents. So if you are Bristol's next Banksy or Somerset's answer to Emin then watch this space for more competition details.
Keep an eye on www.avonandsomerset.police.co.uk, or follow us on Twitter @AS or check out the Force's Facebook page over the coming months for more information. The competition is due to launch in March.
