M&C Saatchi Group + Saatchi Gallery launch worldwide art prize for emerging artists

M&C Saatchi Group and London’s iconic Saatchi Gallery have launched a new international art initiative – the annual Art for Change Prize.

M&C Saatchi Group’s partnership with the renowned contemporary art gallery aims to deepen access to contemporary art, broaden learning opportunities for young people in the UK and worldwide and identify the next generation of artists influencing real societal change. Together they believe in the power of creativity to change the world.

Moray MacLennan, M&C Saatchi CEO, said: “Our partnership with the Saatchi Gallery is about providing meaningful support for emerging artists, globally. It is also about having a positive impact on society, because that’s what art can do, create Meaningful Change.”

Paul Foster, Director Saatchi Gallery, said: “Art has the ability to help us understand ourselves; explore the issues we face as individuals and as a species; and to contribute fresh ideas for the future. We need those ideas more than ever. We need visionary artists and their creativity more than ever. Our aim is to nurture and develop this prize so that new voices from around the world are heard and progress might be realised.”

As part of this shared mission in making art, culture, and creativity accessible to everyone, this free-to-enter prize is a celebration of emerging artistic talent. It will highlight and stimulate dialogue around visual arts as a medium for positive global and social change and give exposure to emerging artists worldwide.

With the concept of Art for Change in mind, this year’s prize invites emerging artists from around the world to creatively respond to the theme of ‘Equality’.

A total prize fund of £20,000 will be split between six regional winners, five to receive £2,000 each and one overall winner to receive £10,000. All artists will exhibit their winning works in a dedicated exhibition at Saatchi Gallery, a recognised authority in contemporary art, where the overall winner will be announced.

Applications will be invited through an open call online and the prize is available to emerging artists based in the following M&C Saatchi key global regions UK, Europe, Americas, Asia, Australia, and Africa. A winner from each location will be decided by some of the best business and creative minds from M&C Saatchi Group globally and eminent guest judges. Judges include:

Asia: Ali Shabaz, Chief Creative Officer at M&C Saatchi Singapore, Tony Liu, Chief Creative Officer at M&C Saatchi aeiou Shanghai, Circe Henestrosa, Fashion Curator & Head of the School of Fashion at Lasalle College of the Arts Singapore.

UK: Ben Golik, Chief Creative Officer at M&C Saatchi London, Darren Bowles, Partner & Executive Creative Director at Re, Part of M&C Saatchi Group, June Sarpong OBE, Author & Broadcaster.

Europe: Vincenzo Gasbarro, Co-Founder & Creative Partner at M&C Saatchi Milan, Klara Eide, Partner & Executive Strategy Director at M&C Saatchi Stockholm, Daniel Sundin, Founder of Litz Art Space Stockholm & Partner & Account Director at M&C Saatchi Stockholm.

Americas: Nicholos Rotondi, Executive Creative Director at M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment North America, Lucas Crigler, Creative Director at SS+K, Part of M&C Saatchi Group, Andre Bato, Founder, Director & Creative Director at Andre Bato Corp.

Africa: Neo Mashigo, Chief Creative Officer at M&C Saatchi Abel South Africa, Robert Grace, Founding Partner and Head of Strategy at M&C Saatchi Abel South Africa, Mary Corrigall, African Art Critic & Founder of Corrigall & Co.

Australia: Emma Robbins, Executive Creative Director at M&C Saatchi Melbourne, Mandie van der Merwe, Executive Creative Director at M&C Saatchi Sydney, Blak Douglas, Artist and 2022 Archibald Prize winner.

One overall winner will then be chosen by a grand jury, still to be announced, led by Saatchi Gallery.

To apply artists must be aged 18 or over, within the first five years of what they hope will be a successful artistic career and be working in one or more of the following media: painting, drawing, illustration, photography, collage, 2D mixed-media, video or film.

Key Dates
Call for entries open: Thursday 14 July 2022
Deadline for entries: Thursday 8 September 2022, 11.59pm UK BST
Regional winners announced: Friday 28 October 2022
Overall winner announced: Wednesday 7 December 2022
Exhibition dates: Thursday 8 December 2022 – Friday 6 January 2023

For more information and to enter, click here.