Press release: CIRCA PRIZE 2023

ENTRIES NOW OPEN FOR THE III EDITION OF
THE CIRCA PRIZE

London, UK ➳ The Cultural Institute of Radical Contemporary Arts (CIRCA) has launched the III edition of the CIRCA PRIZE 2023 — an initiative which invests in the future of art and culture by awarding £40,000 to support the next generation of creative talent globally.

Throughout September, 30 international artists will see their work appear at 20:23 local time on the iconic Piccadilly Lights and across the CIRCA global platform of digital screens. A CIRCA PRIZE Jury of artists and collaborators including Sir Frank Bowling, Douglas Gordon, Anne Imhof, Michèle Lamy, Shirin Neshat, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Josef O’Connor, Olu Odukoya, Sir Norman Rosenthal and Nadya Tolokonnikova (Pussy Riot) will collectively decide the winner. The winning artist will receive £30,000 to support their future practice alongside a new trophy designed by Ai Weiwei, who first launched the CIRCA free public art programme in October 2020. 

A specially formed Curators’ Circle consisting of Erkan Affan, Nana Biamah-Ofosu, Vittoria de Franchis and Sooyoung Leam will support the CIRCA PRIZE Jury by selecting a top 3 from the final shortlist of 30 artists, for the Jury to then decide an overall winner. 

An open call for emerging and mid-career artists of all ages, the CIRCA PRIZE invites a global community of artists, performers, poets, activists, architects, gamers and filmmakers to respond to the CIRCA 20:23 manifesto, ‘Hope: The Art of Reading What Is Not Yet Written’. Artists are required to submit a two-and-a-half minute piece of new or pre-existing work. Previous CIRCA PRIZE winners include Joseph Wilson (CIRCA 20:21) and Mary Martins (CIRCA 20:22). 

An online public vote, powered by Piccadilly Lights, will determine the winner of an additional £10,000. The CIRCA PRIZE and public vote winners will be announced at an award ceremony held in Piccadilly Circus, London, during Frieze Week on 14 October 2023. 

Josef O’Connor, Founder and Artistic Director at CIRCA said ➳ “With public art spaces closing, arts education being slashed and the cost of living crisis making a career in the arts seem impossible, the CIRCA PRIZE sets out to invest in the future of art and culture. None of this would be possible without the generosity of our artists and their unwavering support of the #CIRCAECONOMY – this prize is with thanks to them and everyone who purchased a print this past year.”

The CIRCA PRIZE 2023 is generated entirely from the sale of #CIRCAECONOMY prints. Submissions will close at midnight on Thursday 20 July, 2023. To apply, click here.

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

ABOUT CIRCA
The Cultural Institute of Radical Contemporary Arts (CIRCA) is a digital art and culture platform with a purpose. Every evening at 20:23, CIRCA stops the clock across a global network of public screens and mobilises the world’s greatest creative minds to broadcast unique works of art that consider our world, circa now. Driven by purpose, funds generated from artist print sales enable the #CIRCAECONOMY – a circular model that supports the CIRCA free public art programme whilst also creating life-changing opportunities for a global creative community. Since launching in October 2020 on London’s Piccadilly Lights, CIRCA has distributed over £600,000 in cash grants, scholarships and donations.

Previous CIRCA commissioned artists include Ai Weiwei, Cauleen Smith, Eddie Peake, Anne Imhof, Patti Smith, Tony Cokes, Emma Talbot, Vivienne Westwood, Yoko Ono, Marina Abramović, James Barnor, David Hockney, Cassandra Press, Shirin Neshat, Frank Bowling and more. (www.circa.art)

CIRCA MAP OF GLOBAL SCREENINGS

SOCIAL MEDIA
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#CIRCAPRIZE
#CIRCA2023

PRESS
To download the media pack, click here.

For press enquiries, please contact:

Svetlana Leu | svetlana@circa.art