THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF SCULPTORS - Gilbert Bayes Award for early career sculptors 2025

Deadline: 15/10/2024

City: South Kensington  |  Region: London  |  Country: United Kingdom  |  Lorraine Pajak

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The Gilbert Bayes Award for early career sculptors is given annually by the Society to a small group of outstandingly talented sculptors. Selected by the sculptor members of the Society’s Board and a guest judge, the award provides vital support during what can be a difficult transition from study to professional practice. The award is open to sculptors of any age or nationality, with or without formal training and working in any style of media.

ABOUT THE AWARD 

Award winners receive a year’s worth of professional development (including talks from guest speakers working in commercial galleries, art charities and private collections), free membership of the Royal Society of Sculptors for a year as well as inclusion in a group exhibition (existing work only).

As an award recipient there will also be chance to apply for member only opportunities and a residency based at Benson Sedgwick Engineering Ltd., a metal fabricator in Dagenham, East London.


GUEST SELECTOR 

Freeny Yianni is a curator and owner of CLOSE Gallery, Somerset UK. She lives in Somerset and London. CLOSE represents the Estates of Jane Harris and Turner Prize winner Grenville Davey as well as a rostrum of carefully selected artists who have propelled the gallery to its current international status. Freeny has developed CLOSE since its fruition in 2009 to work with residencies and education programs.

Yianni is Greek Cypriot in origin and has lived most of her life in the UK alongside a period spent working and living in New York. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in Fine Art from the Winchester School of Art and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Art and Architecture, Kent Institute, UK. She is also Co-Chair of Somerset Art Works Charity. This year she is the guest selector for the Royal Society of Sculptors Gilbert Bayes Award 2025. 

An important figure within the history of contemporary art of the 1990's to the present day, Yianni has been responsible for nurturing artists’ careers from the onset and seeing them flourish in the cultural arena. Ex Lisson Gallery, Yianni's ethos for her own gallery concentrates on a contemporary art program developing artists legacies through astute direction and a bespoke approach, whilst engaging art programs in collaboration with inspiring partnerships with museums, galleries and cultural institutions. Yianni sees art as a vehicle to transformation.  


ENTRY FEE 

Entry fee is £10


ENTRY PROCESS 

Applications are welcomed from early career artists of any age and nationality, with or without formal training, though not in formal education. All styles of media are considered, including installation, site specific, performance, conceptual and video work. A minimum of four years exhibiting experience is expected. Applicants, based in the UK and internationally, must be committed to embracing all aspects of the Award and actively participate in all Award events.

Please note that the Society is unable to contribute financially towards artist expenses, travel costs or any costs associated with the group show exhibition.

All applicants will be required to complete an application. This comprises:

·         Up to 10 images of 5 works - please provide details for each artwork within the 'artist statement' text box. We will need - title, year and materials please 

·         An artist statement.

·         A CV no more than two pages long.

·         A brief statement about what you hope to achieve by winning the award.

The closing deadline for online submission is 5pm Tuesday 15 October 2024.

Notification of all results will be sent by email in early December.


RULES AND GUIDELINES 

By submitting an application, the entrant promises that all of the information comprised in the application is correct. The entrant also promises to comply with these rules and any other Award requirements specified by the Society (whether on its website or otherwise) and the Society reserves its right to exclude any entry which in its opinion does not comply.

All applications must be made using this online form and all fields must be completed. No hard copy applications will be accepted. Applications must be received by the closing date specified.

Proof of submission is not proof of receipt. No responsibility can be accepted for applications which are incomplete, delayed or not received for whatever reason. Regrettably incomplete applications will not be submitted to the selection committee for review and will therefore be classed as an unsuccessful application. Refunds will not be given for incomplete applications.


ELIGIBILITY 

Applications are welcomed from early career artists of any age and nationality, with or without formal training, though not in formal education. All styles of media are considered, including installation, site specific, performance, conceptual and video work. A minimum of four years exhibiting experience is expected. Applicants, UK based an international, must be committed to embracing all aspects of the Award and actively participate in all Award events.

Please note that existing or past Royal Society of Sculptors members are not eligible to apply.


GBA MENTORING SESSIONS
 

By submitting an application the entrant, should they be successful and selected, is agreeing to attend all GBA mentoring sessions, please see future session dates below:

·         20 January 2025, 2-5pm

·         17 February 2025, 2-5pm

·         17 March 2025, 2-5pm

·         21 April 2025, 2-5pm

·         19 May 2025, 2-5pm

·         16 June 2025, 2-5pm

·         21 July 2025, 2-5pm

·         15 September 2025, 2-5pm

·         20 October 2025, 2-5pm

·         17 November 2025, 2-5pm

The above sessions will be a mixture of online and in person meetings.

Please note that if a successful entrant misses three mentoring sessions they will be excluded from the exhibition. If unable to attend a mentoring session in person we do allow the use of Zoom.


SCULPTURE SLAM TALK AND GROUP EXHIBITION 

By submitting an application the entrant, should they be successful and selected, is agreeing to participate in a Sculpture Slam talk and group exhibition with other successful entrants.

 

Submission fees

The following submission fees apply to this opportunity.

  • Entry fee - 10.00 GBP

The appropriate fee will be payable using a debit or credit card after the first submission has been completed. If the submission fee allows you to submit more than once, you will be able to make further submissions after the first. Contact the curator if you have any questions about the opportunity or the submission fee, or email help@curatorspace.com if you have any questions about the payment process.

Make a submission Contact the curator
Who is eligible for this opportunity?
Applications are welcomed from early career artists of any age and nationality, with or without formal training, though not in formal education.
When is the deadline?
15th October 2024
How many works can I submit?
5 works (we can accept up to 10 images of the works)
How much does it cost?
It is £10 to enter.

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