Wirksworth Festival Launch Online Art Prize
Wirksworth Festival launches its first online art prize – a vibrant platform for artists to showcase their work and win one of six prizes, including a People’s Vote.
Wirksworth Festival has launched its first Online Art Prize – bringing artists and audiences together from the comfort of their own sofas to exhibit, browse and buy art from August – September 2021.
Just for this year, the Derbyshire Festival has decided not to host their much-loved Art & Architecture Trail, where ordinarily 150 artists show their work in around 70 venues throughout the town. The Online Art Prize will provide a digital gallery and shop for artists to share their latest work and for audiences to enjoy, buy and vote for their favourite pieces.
The Festival are looking for entries from artists at all stages of their career and are excited to showcase all the kinds of work visitors would normally find on the annual Trail and Designer Makers Markets - painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics, photography, textiles, glass, wood and jewellery. They are also hoping to receive entries from all over the UK and even international artists.
Artist can enter up to 4 pieces of work into the competition for free, with a £25 exhibition fee if their work is selected by a panel of artists and Festival trustees who will select work to feature in the online gallery and shop and to be part of the People’s Prize vote.
Carol Taylor, Wirksworth Festival Chair said,“Earlier in the year we had all hoped the pandemic would have slowed down enough for us to run the 2021 Festival in its usual way, however we heard from our local community that running the Art & Architecture Trail which involves over 70 private venues opening their doors to thousands of visitors, wasn’t a favourable option. However, despite initial disappointment for the second year in a row, we are now really excited to launch our first ever Online Art Prize. Providing space, whether that’s on or off line, for artists to exhibit and audiences to enjoy and buy work is hugely important to us and this Online Art Prize is a fun and engaging way to do just that. We hope the prizes, including the People’s Prize, will attract a diverse range of artists and add a really exciting element for both artists and audiences! We are very grateful once again for the support of the Longcliffe Community Fund for making this competition possible.”
Viv Russell, Longcliffe Group Managing Director said,"We are very pleased to again support Wirksworth Festival. This year’s Online Art Prize competition is highly imaginative, illustrating a digital gallery and shop for artists to share their latest work and for audiences to enjoy, buy and vote for their favourite pieces. The project will bring artists and audiences together from the comfort of their own home to exhibit, browse and buy art."
The Wirksworth Festival Online Art Prize opens in July, the deadline for submissions is Monday 9th August, the People’s Prize vote opens on Friday 20th August, with winners announced on Monday 6th September. There are six prizes to be won – 1st prize is £500, 2nd - £250, 3rd - £100 and three People’s Prizes of £50 each.
For more information about Wirksworth Festival and to keep up to date with their news, visit www.wirksworthfestival.co.uk, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & Youtube.
Wirksworth Festival Online Art Prize 2021
- Monday 9th August – deadline for entries
- Friday 20th August – Online Gallery goes live & People’s Vote opens
- Monday 6th September – winners announced and Online Shop opens
- Monday 27th September – Online Gallery & Shop closes