New Light Sculpture Prize 2024

For the first time, New Light is offering a prize to Northern Sculptors; kindly hosted by The Biscuit Factory, alongside the Newcastle leg of the Prize Exhibition tour (29th June – 22nd Sept 2024), the new competition is open to all Northern Sculptors and Ceramists. The £1,000 prize is sponsored by The Biscuit Foundation.

• All entries are submitted online through newlight-art.org.uk.
• To enter an artwork, click on Submit an Entry in the menu at the top of the page.
• You may enter one artwork, or as many as you wish, but please note the judges will shortlist a maximum of three pieces per artist.
• You may upload multiples images per artwork.
• Each artwork requires a completed form. New Light will not accept multiples entries on one form.
• The first artwork is £15
• The second artwork is £15
• The third (or any subsequent artworks) is £10. For example, if you enter 3 artworks, you will pay £40 in total (£15 + £15 +£10)
• Payments are made online through a secure payment system (Stripe).
• Unless New Light has made an error, no refunds will be given.
• All requested information must be completed before 31st March 2024 for your entry to be considered for shortlisting.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

The New Light Sculpture Prize (sponsored by The Biscuit Factory Foundation) is open to all artists who

were born in the North of England or

are currently living in the North of England or

studied at degree or postgraduate level (in an arts-based subject) in the North of England.

For these purposes, the North of England is defined as being the historic counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland and Yorkshire.

Entrants can be at any stage in their career; there is no upper age restriction, but we do ask for entrants to be over 18 when entries close.

WHAT ARTWORK IS ELIGIBLE?

• The Sculpture Prize is open to all 3D works (including ceramics) that are free-standing, either floor or plinth-based but no installation pieces at this time.
• Artworks must be able to fit through the entrance door to the gallery.
• Artworks must be capable of being carried/transported/lifted by no more than two people.
  
• No wall-hung pieces.
• Power sources are not available, so no artworks that require a power/light source will be eligible.
  
• Suspended artworks. Please email info@newlight-art.org.uk if you would like to enter a suspended piece. The Biscuit Factory will make final decisions on eligible artworks.
  
• Materials that are not acceptable – anything perishable (vegetation, food etc)
  
• Maquettes will be accepted of 3D work that may not fit the above criteria.
• Originals of any submitted entry must be available for judging at The Biscuit Factory Launch event.
• Entry Criteria is always under review and we reserve the right to make changes until the day before we open for entries.

HOW TO ENTER

• Entrants must complete an online entry form.
• Entrants can upload multiple images per artwork submitted.
• Entrants should submit their images in JPEG format, 300dpi (max 8MB).
• In sending an image, entrants confirm that they own the copyright of the image or have the copyright owner’s authority to distribute the image for reproduction.
• Entries may not be submitted by e-mail or by post unless New Light requests additional information.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ENTER?

• A fee is payable online (via Stripe) to New Light for each artwork submitted: £15 for one entry, £15 for a second entry, £10 for subsequent entries.
• Once a work has been submitted and the appropriate fee paid, no refund will be made.
• There is no maximum number of submissions per artist. However, please note that a maximum of 3 works will be shortlisted per artist.
• Please note, this a one-venue exhibition and the artworks will not be touring.
• Artists are responsible for transporting their artworks to the gallery and collecting them at the end of the exhibition. It will not be possible for the Biscuit Factory to store artworks.

WHEN CAN I ENTER?

Please see key dates

IF MY ARTWORK IS SHORTLISTED, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

• Selected artists are responsible for arranging the delivery of their artwork to The Biscuit Factory by the agreed date and also for collecting unsold work from the last venue by the date given by the gallery.
• A storage charge may be incurred if artwork is not collected within the offered timeframe.
• All artists submit their work on the understanding that selected pieces will be exhibited as for sale.
• There may be an opportunity to replace sold work an artwork is sold and removed early in the exhibition. This will be at the Biscuit Factory’s discretion.

THE PRIZE

• The decision of the adjudicators is final and no correspondence can be entered into.
• The Prize will be presented by New Light and The Biscuit Factory at the Launch.
• The winner will be asked to provide original evidence of how they meet the entry criteria.
• The personal information supplied by entrants will be held securely by the organisers in accordance with the Data Protection Act, 1998.
• No sponsor, judge, adviser, member, employee of New Light, or relative thereof, is eligible for a prize.

LABELS for transporting

Labels (artist name, title of piece, media, price and dimensions) must be attached to the back of all works selected and to the front of any packaging.

SALES OF ARTWORK

The artist will receive 50% of all sales of their artworks. 50% is retained as a commission by the organisers (The gallery and New Light). This will be shared between New Light and the exhibition venues. VAT may be chargeable on the commission, but the artist will never receive less than 50%.

MARKETING & PROMOTION

The copyright of all works submitted for the New Light Prize Exhibition will remain the property of the artist, but it is a condition of entry that the organisers reserve the right of reproduction of all works invited for exhibition for publicity/educational/reference purposes.

A successful exhibition requires committed publicity by New Light, partner galleries and New Light artists. Artists are requested to submit information in a timely manner and in the requested format.

Artists are requested to provide all social media handles and website details  and to share materials provided by New Light with their networks.

Artists are requested to be available for interview, if required.

New Light Sculpture Prize Key Dates for 2024

1 Jan 2024 – New Light Sculpture Prize Call for Entries

31 Mar 2024 – Call for Entries closes

30 Apr 2024 – Shortlisted artists announced

28 Jun 2024 – Sculpture Exhibition Launch & Prize-Giving (alongside New Light Prize Exhibition PV) at The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle

29 Jun 2024 – Exhibition opens to the Public

22nd Sept 2024 – Exhibition at The Biscuit Factory closes