Whitechapel Gallery Hosts Fourth Dazed/Converse Emerging Artist Award

Since its inception in 2010, the Dazed/Converse 2013 Emerging Artists Award has become an integral part of UK’s emerging art scene and an invaluable platform for young artists. Following the success of previous years, Converse and Dazed are teaming with the Whitechapel Gallery for the fourth consecutive Emerging Artists Award, which is open for submissions now.The Whitechapel Gallery’s mutual heritage of supporting the vibrant British creative community is also the venue hosting this year's offerings. Dazed’s Francesca Gavin said: “This award is all about bringing attention to the breadth and innovation of a whole generation of new artists who do not have gallery representation. It’s a chance to support and promote artists who are being overlooked and highlight the power and engagement in their practices.”

The 2013 judging panel once again brings together some of the most respected names in the arts. It is comprised of: SADIE COLES gallerist, MATT WILLIAMS ICA curator, PAUL NOBLE Turner Prize-nominated artist, MIRANDA SAWYER arts journalist, MICHELLE COTTON firstsite curator, KIRSTY OGG Whitechapel Gallery curator, FRANCESCA GAVIN Dazed & Confused visual arts editor

Previous winners including Gabrielle Beverage in 2011 has since seen all her work bought by the Saatchi Gallery whilst Richard Parry was commissioned at Venice Biennale, and Levack and Lewandowski saw three shows and performances in 2013.

Entry is open to all unrepresented UK artists, as long as they are under 35 and not currently in education. The shortlisted artists will be selected on the basis of demonstrating inventive, interesting and well-executed approaches to their work, and will receive £1,000 each to put on a collective exhibition of new work. The winning artist will then receive a further £5,000 at a ceremony at the Whitechapel Gallery.

In Miranda Sawyer’s words, the judges are looking for “something that sparks an unexpected response, that makes you see your world anew and askew.” The hunt for this year’s undiscovered talent starts now.

The competition is open to all UK-based artists under the age of 35 who are not represented by a gallery and are not currently studying. Artists of all disciplines are invited to submit their work for the judges’ consideration. The four shortlisted artists will be selected on the basis of what the judging panel considered to be the most innovative, interesting and well-produced work. One overall winner will be chosen to receive a cash prize of £6,000, while the other shortlisted artists will receive £1,000.

Since opening in 1901, the Whitechapel Gallery has forged an exhibition history of groundbreaking firsts. In 1939 it displayed Picasso’s “Guernica” on the painting’s only visit to Britain; in 1958, it hosted the first major British show of Jackson Pollock; in 1961 it staged the UK premier of Mark Rothko; in 1970 and 1971 came the first shows by David Hockney, Gilbert & George and Richard Long; in 1982 it introduced the then-little-known Frida Kahlo to British audiences; in the 80s and 90s it showcased the likes of Lucien Freud, Cindy Sherman, Peter Doig and Jeff Wall; and in 2001 and 2002 it staged the first major UK solo shows of Liam Gillick and Nan Goldin.