CIRCA PRIZE 2024
WELCOME TO THE CIRCA PRIZE
<<BREAK FREE>>
Like the instant before an arrow breaks free from the bow, we find ourselves in a moment of nervous anticipation.
Today (5 June 2024), Marina Abramović and Ai Weiwei announce the return of the CIRCA PRIZE 2024, with an open call for artists to win £40,000. Now in its fourth consecutive year, the prize aims to discover, platform and champion the future visionaries shaping our world for the better.
The CIRCA PRIZE is searching for emerging and mid-career artists aged 18 and over, of all nationalities and from every location across the planet. To enter, artists must submit a two-and-a-half minute video work (with sound 🔊) in response to the CIRCA 20:24 manifesto ‘<<Break Free>> Time’s Arrow Flies Forever Forward’.
As the CIRCA 20:24 manifesto predicted, we are together facing a gathering storm: political, social, and ecological. So far, this year has unfolded from unfamiliar beginnings toward uncertain futures. As much as we may fear the edge of all that is known, we take a lead from Abramović and from Yves Klein, who once invited us to join him in dreaming of a departure from the cold certainty of the past and leap with him into the “marvellous void”.
In the crises of today, we see a chance to break with the repeating rhythms of the past. But, we know, these cycles do not break themselves. We ask: who will be today’s instigators, insurgents, and inventors, prepared to herald a new era of liberation?
Throughout September, 30 international artists will see their work appear at 20:24 local time on the iconic Piccadilly Lights and across the CIRCA global platform of digital screens in Milan and Berlin, chosen by a jury made up of CIRCA artists and collaborators including Marina Abramović, Lisa Anderson, Nicoletta Fiorucci, Michèle Lamy, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Josef O’Connor, Kembra Pfahler, Sir Norman Rosenthal, Slawn, Nadya Tolokonnikova and Ai Weiwei.
The CIRCA PRIZE 2024 launched Wednesday 5 June at 20:00 BST on Piccadilly Lights with a special 10-minute screening of ‘Departing’ by CIRCA PRIZE 2022 winner, Mary Martins. The CIRCA PRIZE 2024 award ceremony will be held LIVE! in Piccadilly Circus, London, during Frieze Week on 8 October 2024.
The winning artist will receive £30,000 to help support their practice and develop a new CIRCA commission, alongside a trophy designed especially by Ai Weiwei. The life-changing award is entirely funded by the work of CIRCA exhibiting artists. As part of the #CIRCAECONOMY, artists have produced affordable art prints, purchased by CIRCA supporters around the world. Previous CIRCA PRIZE winners include Joseph Wilson (2021), Mary Martins (2022) and Cemile Sahin (2023).
Mary Martins says that winning the prize allowed her to complete a project that she had held onto for a decade, in addition to connecting her work with communities throughout the Global South. “Thanks to the CIRCA PRIZE, I was able to initiate the creative process and bring Departing to life, a crucial element to my artistic journey and counterpart to my first feature-length film,” says multi-disciplinary artist Mary Martins. “I would encourage all artists to apply, especially those who are actively using their work to make an impact and aspire to see positive change in the world.”
The CIRCA PRIZE is supported by a specially formed CURATORS CIRCLE consisting of Mohamed Almusibli (Kunsthalle Basel, Basel), Attilia Fattori Franchini (Kunstverein Gartenhaus, Vienna), Sydney Fishman (BOFFO, New York), Sohyeon Park (Incheon International Airport Art and Culture, Incheon), and Kostas Stasinopoulos (Serpentine Galleries, London) will engage with local communities and select the 30 finalists before deliberating with the Jury to select an overall winner.
In addition to the main prize, an online public vote powered by Piccadilly Lights will determine the winner of an additional £10,000.
“The CIRCA PRIZE returns for its fourth year searching out tomorrow’s visionaries. Each year, the prize has travelled further across the planet to reach into new creative communities and discover artists who seek a better future for us all,” says Josef O’Connor, Founder and Artistic Director of CIRCA. “Our unending thanks go out to every artist in the past few years who have produced artworks, and every person who purchased one. Together, we have built the #CIRCAECONOMY that funds this life-changing prize.”
READ BEFORE APPLYING
↓ CIRCA PRIZE 2024 is a free-to-apply-open call for emerging and mid-career artists of all ages over 18, nationalities and locations.
↳ Boil a kettle and read the Terms & Conditions carefully before applying;
➜ To apply, scroll down and fill out the submission form before midnight on 15 July 2024;
⇢ Artists must submit a two-and-a-half minute piece of work (with sound 🔊) in response to the CIRCA 20:24 manifesto, ‘<<Break Free>> Time’s Arrow Flies Forever Forward’;
➤ We encourage and appreciate considered applications. Please (!) do not send in abrupt cut-downs of longer works. Consider the time constraint as a window for expression. Applications longer or shorter in length than 2.5 minutes will immediately be disqualified;
🏹 The 30 finalists will be notified in mid-August. Their work will be exhibited on Piccadilly Lights and across the CIRCA global platform of digital screens throughout September 2024;
➵ The CURATORS CIRCLE will deliberate with the Jury to decide an overall winner of the £30,000 main prize. In keeping with the spirit of public art, throughout September, an online public vote will decide the winner of an additional £10,000, powered by Piccadilly Lights;
💘 Save the date! The CIRCA PRIZE 2024 award ceremony will be held LIVE! in Piccadilly Circus, London, during Frieze Week on 7 October 2024.
