Global creative solutions company M&C Saatchi Group and London’s iconic Saatchi Gallery have today announced the third edition of their annual international art initiative – the Art for Change Prize.
The free-to-enter Art for Change Prize aims to make art, culture, and creativity accessible to everyone. It celebrates emerging artistic talent and serves to highlight and stimulate dialogue around visual arts as a medium for positive global and social change.
- M&C Saatchi Group and Saatchi Gallery Art for Change Prize entries open on May 9 2024.
- The 2024 theme, ‘Tomorrow’ing: Visions of a better future’, invites emerging artists to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues and act as a beacon of hope in the pursuit of a better tomorrow.
- The prize was launched in 2022 in response to worldwide cuts to arts funding. It is the result of a shared commitment to support the power of creativity and is dedicated to promoting the next generation of artists exploring some of today’s most pressing issues.
- The total prize fund of £20,000 will be split between six regional winners, whose work will be presented in a winners’ exhibition at London’s iconic Saatchi Gallery.
Last year’s prize saw the total number of entries increase to over 3,000, a year-on-year rise of 20% with entrants from artists based in 130 countries,
56% of them developing nations from within Latin America, Africa, Asia and Oceania.
2024 Art for Change Prize Theme
As we enter 2024, the world is confronted by a waning sense of optimism, with urgent social, political, and economic issues front of mind for people around the globe. This year’s prize invites emerging artists to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues and act as a beacon of hope in the pursuit of a better tomorrow by responding to the theme ‘Tomorrow’ing: Visions of a better future’.
Richard Thompson, Non-Exec Chair of M&C Saatchi UK Group, comments: “At M&C Saatchi Group we’re dedicated to fostering the future of creativity. Our partnership with Saatchi Gallery strives to deepen access to the arts and provide meaningful support to the artists of tomorrow. The Art for Change Prize is about driving positive societal change, fuelled by our vision for a better future and our belief in the power of creativity to change the world.”
Paul Foster, Saatchi Gallery Director, adds: “Each year we invite artists to help us understand ourselves and show us a way forward. Each year we’re amazed at the submissions we receive and the talent that graces our exhibition space.”
Last year’s overall 2023 winner, artist Haining Wang from China, reflects, “Winning the Art for Change Prize has been an incredible opportunity to share my work with a broader audience at the prestigious Saatchi Gallery. As a recent graduate, I had never thought that I would win the overall prize. It has been an immense vote of confidence and huge encouragement for my practice and has given me the momentum and resources to commit to my career. I encourage emerging artists to contemplate this year's theme and put their best work forward!”
To Apply & more info
Artists must be aged 18 or over, within the first five years of active practice and be working in one or more of the following media: painting, drawing, illustration, photography, collage, 2D mixed-media, video or film. To enter and get more info visit https://mcsaatchi.com/artforchangeprize
About M&C Saatchi Group
M&C Saatchi Group is a creative solutions company that connects specialist expertise, fuelled by data and technology, to create beautifully simple solutions for an increasingly complex world. We do this with capabilities that stretch across the entire digital landscape and customer journey. The Group operates across five core specialisms: Advertising, Consulting, Issues, Passions & PR, and Media. Headquartered in London, our operations span 23 countries with major hubs in the UK, Europe, US, Middle East, Africa and APAC.
M&C Saatchi was founded on the philosophy of Brutal Simplicity of Thought, which to this day guides every area of our business – from how we operate internally, to the creative work we produce for our clients. www.mcsaatchi.com
About Saatchi Gallery
Since 1985, Saatchi Gallery has provided an innovative platform for contemporary art. Exhibitions have presented works by largely unseen young artists, or by international artists whose work has been rarely or never exhibited in the UK. This approach has made the Gallery one of the most recognised names in contemporary art. Since moving to its current 70,000 square feet space in the Duke of York’s Headquarters in Chelsea, London, the Gallery has welcomed over 10 million visitors. The Gallery hosts thousands of school visits annually and has over 6 million followers on social media. In 2019 Saatchi Gallery became a registered charity, beginning a new chapter in its history.
Registered Charity Number: 1182328
Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4RY
www.saatchigallery.com
