Last year, following 17 significant and successful years of support, Jerwood Charitable Foundation and Bath Spa University announced it would be Jerwood Charitable Foundation’s final year as the key partner and funder for the Jerwood Drawing Prize. Jerwood Charitable Foundation primarily supports early-career artists and projects in their early stages and remains committed to supporting drawing as a fundamental element of artistic practice. It is rare and unusual that it has the opportunity to follow a project into its mature life and to do so with the this project has been in an immense privilege. The final exhibition slot of the year in the Jerwood Visual Arts programme will now be occupied by Survey, an artist-nominated national survey exhibition of early-career artists’ practice curated by Sarah Williams, Head of Programme. Details to be announced shortly.
Now named The Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, the prize was first established in 1994 by Professor Anita Taylor, Dean of Bath School of Art and Design at Bath Spa University; originally as the Rexel Derwent Open Drawing Exhibition and later becoming known as the Cheltenham Open Drawing Exhibition until Jerwood Charitable Foundation became its principle sponsor in 2001. Jerwood Charitable Foundation contributed £941,430 to the project, supporting almost 1,000 artists through it and hosting the annual exhibition as part of its Jerwood Visual Arts programme at Jerwood Space in London and on tour nationally.
The Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize is now the largest and longest running annual open exhibition for drawing in the UK and has established a reputation for its commitment to championing excellence, and for promoting and celebrating the breadth of contemporary drawing practice. In offering emerging, mid-career and established artists a national platform to exhibit their work, the project has developed new insights into the role and value of drawing in creative practice today.
Anita Taylor, Executive Dean, Bath School of Art & Design, Bath Spa University & Director of the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, said:
“I am excited that the Trinity Buoy Wharf Trust has become the new sponsor of the Drawing Prize and, as it celebrates its twentieth anniversary, we are delighted that the Trust has chosen to celebrate drawing and creativity and to support artists and makers in the UK who value and champion the role of drawing within their practice. We look forward to working closely with Trinity Buoy Wharf Trust who share our exciting vision for the future of the Drawing Prize project.”
Eric Sorenson, Trinity Buoy Wharf Trust said:
“Trinity Buoy Wharf Trust is delighted to become the new sponsor of the Drawing Prize, and to join with Bath Spa University to promote artists’ endeavours and commitment to drawing. The Trust works with a wide range of artists and creative businesses, and we look forward to working with Professor Anita Taylor, Bath Spa University and Parker Harris to maintain and develop the success of the Drawing Prize.”
Trinity Buoy Wharf is a thriving centre for the arts and creative industries with a rare community of over 500 like-minded people enjoying the unique riverside location. Free from overdevelopment, the site’s fascinating history can still be seen in its buildings and installations. Current residents include the Royal Drawing School and The Big Draw.
The Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize project is led by founding Director, Professor Anita Taylor, Executive Dean of Bath School of Art & Design at Bath Spa University.
For further information and to enter: trinitybuoywharfdrawingprize.drawingprojects.uk
