Now in its fourth year, the VIA Arts Prize, a bespoke Ibero-American themed visual arts competition, is open for UK based artists to submit a unique piece of work by Monday 22 October 2018. An exhibition of the top 30 works will take place at the Embassy of Brazil in London in December.
The theme this year is Dialogues, a subject that remains topical and embodies the continuity of this London arts prize. It also highlights the process of intercultural exchange through an engagement with Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese art and cultures.
The VIA Arts Prize is the fruit of a partnership between the Embassy of Brazil, the cultural association ACALASP (the Association of Cultural Attachés of Latin America, Spain and Portugal), and the arts charity People’s Palace Projects from Queen Mary University of London, and is sponsored by Itaú.
Curated and organised by ACALASP and the Embassy of Brazil, the prize is judged by a prestigious jury comprised of leading experts from the art world with a variety of expertise, including curating, practicing art as well as academia and cultural journalism.
The winner of the prize will have their work become a permanent feature in the Embassy of Brazil’s private collection. The winner is also invited back to the Embassy of Brazil the following year to exhibit a selection of their new works alongside the annual VIA Art Prize show. The runner up’s work will be given to Itaú to be held as part of their international collection.
The Chairwoman of ACALASP and the Cultural Attaché to the Embassy of Guatemala in London, Cecilia Santamarina de Orive, says:
“The aim of the prize is to celebrate the richness of the Ibero-American arts scene in the UK and globally, create a more profound cultural awareness by engaging artists with our regional artistic legacies, and generate a dialogue through the coming together of different nationalities in the name of art. Each year we are amazed at the uniqueness of each piece entered and the diverse responses artists have to the theme and their links to Latin America and Iberia. As an art prize, the VIA Art Prize offers artists worldwide exposure and a permanent link to the Embassy of Brazil.”
The Embassy of Brazil’s Cultural Attaché, Paula Rassi, says:
“The Embassy of Brazil is proud to be once again hosting the VIA Arts Prize at our ornate, Grade-II listed ‘Sala Brasil gallery’, a hidden jewel in London’s historic gallery scene. Alongside this year’s finalists’ exhibition opening in December, we also look forward to welcoming last year’s 1stprize winner, Herefordshire-based sculptor Susan Phillips, who will be putting on a solo showing of her own Neo-Concrete art. Her exquisite ceramic works are testament to the enduring nature of Latin America’s artistic legacy abroad, as well as exhibiting a rare sensitivity to form and light. Her work is emblematic of the high caliber of work produced by VIA-inspired artists.”
Applicants can submit their work until Monday 22 October 2018 by filling out the submission form on the website www.viaartsprize.org. There are no submission fees. Works can be submitted in the categories of painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, collage, drawing, engraving, digital print, (non-photographic), textiles and tapestry.
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