The Turner Prize, canceled

Under normal circumstances, the Turner Prize jury would have announced the shortlist of four nominees later this month. But the coronavirus takes another victim forward, as this edition has been canceled and will be resumed in 2021. However, organizers of the prestigious award have announced that this year they will award ten grants of £10,000 to ten artists.

“Gallery closures and social distancing measures are vitally important, but they are also causing major disruption to artists’ lives and livelihoods. The tight schedule to prepare for the annual exhibition would not have been possible with the current restrictions.”, commented Alex Farquharson, director of Tate Britain and president of the jury that awards the prize.

So keep going, they want “support more artists during this exceptionally difficult time”. Regarding this decision, Farquharson wanted to remember JMW Turner, the artist after whom the award is named: “he once planned to leave his fortune to support artists in times of need. I think the would approve our decision. I feel visitors will be disappointed there won’t be a Turner Prize this year, but we can all hope it returns in 2021.”

Over the past twelve months, the jury, made up of Richard Birkett, Sarah Munro, Fatos Ustek and Duro Olowu, has visited hundreds of exhibitions to select the nominees. Given these circumstances, they will hold a virtual meeting to select the ten names to be announced at the end of June following existing criteria based on their contribution to new developments in contemporary art.

Convened for the first time in 1984 with the aim of promoting public debate around new trends in contemporary art, the Tate, which recognizes the work of artists who have exhibited in the United Kingdom with this prize, usually awards a total of £40,000 in prizes. : 25,000 for the winner and 5,000 for each of the finalists.