The Embassy of Brazil in London and ACALASP (the Association of Cultural Attachés of Latin America, Spain and Portugal), in partnership with Instituto Cervantes and People’s Palace Projects (Queen Mary University of London), are once again collaborating for the sixth iteration of the Prize.
In order to meet current social distancing requirements, this year’s Prize will take shape in a new multi-platform format.
The VIA Arts Prize is the UK’s only Ibero-American-themed arts prize. Its mission is to celebrate the significant global and historical reach of art and culture from Latin America, Spain and Portugal, both past and present, and to deepen cultural awareness and strengthen visibility of these regions within the UK. The Prize also seeks to encourage mutual cultural exchange and enhance relations between these locations.
The Prize is open to any artists currently residing in the UK of any nationality. Artists are invited to submit an original artwork specifically inspired by Ibero-American arts and culture in the fields of painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media and assemblage, collage, drawing, engraving, digital print (non-photographic), video art, and textiles and tapestry.
Submissions for this year’s Prize will be open until 27 September.
Previous winners of the prestigious Prize include Taiwanese artist Ting-Tong Chang, British sculptor Susan Phillips, Brazilian artist Antonio Tarsis and Portuguese artist Hugo Brazão.
As a response to the challenges and restrictions presented by the Covid-19 outbreak, the 2020 edition of the VIA Arts Prize will take on a special cross-channel format. The 30 shortlisted works will be exhibited online at the VIA Arts Prize official website from November 2020.
As the social distancing measures brought on by the pandemic are set to continue for some time within creative industries, VIA organisers have therefore decided to adapt this year’s award, taking this as an opportunity to support more artists and reach wider audiences during these challenging circumstances.
Three cash prizes of £2,000, generously provided by Itaú, will be awarded to the jury committee’s first, second and third choices in December of this year. A cash prize of £1,000 will also be granted to the winner of the ‘People’s Choice Award’ (to be determined by the public via an online voting system). The four winners of the 2020 VIA Arts Prize will also be awarded a joint exhibition in the Embassy of Brazil’s Sala Brasil in 2021, alongside the 2019 winner’s show.
