10 March 2009

National prizes for Duncan of Jordanstone graduates

Eye-catching degree show exhibitions have led to several Duncan of Jordanstone graduates scooping prizes at a major new exhibition showcasing Scotland’s finest emerging artistic talent.

They won seven of the 22 prizes awarded to participants at the inaugural RSA New Contemporaries, a Royal Scottish Acdemy exhibition promoting the country’s best new artists and architects.

Stuart Lorimer won the Stevenston Award for Painting and a £5,000 cash prize while fellow Duncan of Jordanstone graduate Ashley Nieuwenhuizen was awarded the RSA Sir William Gillies Bequest Award.

Ashley, whose 'Moult-In' exhibition runs at Duncan of Jordanstone’s Lower Foyer Gallery until Saturday, March 21, received £2,000.

The other Duncan of Jordanstone winners are:

• Ai Kato (RSA Chalmers Bursary).
• Stuart McAdam (RSA Chalmers-Jervise Prize).
• Camilla Symons (Friends of the Royal Scottish Academy Award).
• Scott Gordon (Peacock Visual Arts Award for Moving Image).
• Euan Taylor (The Skinny Award).

Exhibitors were selected to take part, and compete for £9,000 worth of prizes, after members of the RSA identified them as being among the best young artists and architects in Scotland after visiting degree shows across the country in 2008.

The exhibition, which has evolved out of the long standing RSA Annual Student Exhibition, which was first held at the RSA in 1976, took place in February. It gave 60 emerging artists the opportunity to showcase a selection of new work including painting, sculpture, film making, photography, printmaking, architecture and installation.

Colin Greenslade, RSA Programme Director, commented, 'We envisaged that the development of this exhibition will be one of the most important initiatives for emerging artists in Scotland each year, enabling a ‘first exhibition’ opportunity for some 60+ emergent artists annually.'

Professor Tracy Mackenna, Associate Dean of Art at Duncan of Jordanstone said, 'The opportunity for emerging artists to exhibit a substantial body of work at the prestigious RSA venue in the centre of Edinburgh provides them with an unrivaled platform.'

'Duncan of Jordanstone is delighted to be able to work with the RSA on this significant new development, building on the RSA's outstanding record in supporting all aspects of emerging artists' careers.'

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