Gallery 1957 announced the launch of the first ever dedicated art prize for women artists living and working in Africa.
Tiffany Alfonseca, Yo Soy La Que Mando (Detail), 2020. Courtesy of the artist and Gallery 1957
Named after the prominent Ghanaian queen, the The Yaa Asantewaa Art Prize launch coincides with the gallery’s 5th anniversary celebrations, and aims to further strengthen our commitment to supporting and promoting emerging and established artists across Ghana and the diaspora.
The inaugural art prize is open exclusively to Ghanaian women and self identifying women artists either living in Ghana or across its diaspora. In the future, we look forward to expanding the prize to include all African and African diaspora identifying artists. The prize will award GH₵40,000 alongside an artist residency and exhibition at Gallery 1957 in 2021, to one winner. A second and third prize of GH₵20,000 and GH₵15,000 will be offered to runners up.
The winner is chosen by a jury of international experts including artists, curators, and arts writers. The jurors for the inaugural 2021 prize are:
Afua Hirsch, Writer and broadcaster
Amoako Boafo, Artist
Charlotte Newman, Collector
Ibrahim Mahama, Artist and founder of the SCCA
Marwan Zakhem, Director, Gallery 1957
Touria El Glaoui, Founder 1-54
Zoe Whitley, Director, Chisenhale Gallery
Applications:
Entries for the 2021 Yaa Asantewaa Art Prize are now open and close on 31 May 2021. The Yaa Asantewaa Art Prize is open to all women and self-identifying women artists, based in Ghana and the Ghanaian diaspora. All applicants must send through an artist statement and biography as well as three accompanying jpegs in high resolution of recent work produced after January 2020. All applications should be submitted to: applications@gallery1957.com
First Prize
GH₵40,000
Plus Social Media/Digital Marketing; 4 months artists residency (which includes artist studio, art materials, stipend, and accommodations); A solo show at Gallery1957 will follow the residency.
Second Prize
GH₵20,000
Social Media/Digital Marketing
Third Prize
GH₵15,000
Social Media/Digital Marketing
Applications close on 31 May 2021, with a winner announced in August 2021.
All applications should be submitted to: applications@gallery1957.com
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