The 6th John Ruskin Prize Call for Entries

Artists, designers and makers worldwide are invited to apply for the sixth John Ruskin Prize, which has the theme of ‘Seeing the Unseen, Hearing the Unspoken’ this time.

The John Ruskin Prize aims to attract entries from a wide range of artists and makers celebrating creativity in all mediums, encompassing all forms of glasswork, drawing, painting, print, sculpture, photography, textiles, animation, digital art, performance, installation and mixed media art, among others.

Up to 40 artists will be selected to show their work in an exhibition at Trinity Buoy Wharf in London from 1 to 18 February 2024.

A total of £8,000 in prize money will be divided between the award winners, who will be announced on 31 January 2024.

Five winners will be chosen by a selection panel for the following prizes:

• 1st Prize: £3,000
• 2nd Prize: £2,000
• The Alan Davidson Under 26 Prize: £1,000
• The International Prize: £1,000
• The 2024 Kate Mason Prize for Innovation: £1,000.

For the first time, The John Ruskin Prize is open to international entries, allowing artists, designers, and makers working outside the UK to participate and receive a dedicated prize, worth £1,000. Submissions for this category must be digital, as the judging will be conducted digitally, eliminating the need to ship physical artworks for exhibition.

Works can be recent creations, or up to three years old, as long as they represent or interpret the theme of the exhibition. Individual artists, designers and collectives are all eligible to apply.

Presented by The Guild of St George and visual literacy charity The Big Draw, The John Ruskin Prize upholds the values of John Ruskin, the radical 19th-century writer, art critic, polymath and advocate for art’s power to reveal universal truths. This uniquely multi-disciplinary prize offers a platform for artists to explore and challenge artistic boundaries while honouring Ruskin’s influential legacy of recognising and supporting artists, designers, and makers who defy categorisation and embrace interdisciplinary practices.

Deadline: Wednesday 20 September 2023, 5pm BST.

More details of entry criteria and entry portal: https://new.artopps.co.uk/opportunities/johnruskinprize

Image: Selection of works from the last John Ruskin Prize, held in 2019.