The sixth edition of Eden Arts’ Young Cumbrian Artist of the Year 2020 is now open for entries from students and young people aged 15 – 24 who live, work or are from Cumbria. New and emerging artists in any media are eligible to apply to this free competitive open exhibition.
Eden Arts are working in partnership with the Institute of the Arts at the University of Cumbria to showcase the excellent quality of work being produced by young people studying in or from Cumbria.
Successful applicants will have the opportunity to showcase their work in an online gallery on the new Eden Arts website as well as exhibit work alongside other young artists at the Vallum Gallery at the University of Cumbria through March 2020. The Young Cumbrian Artist of the Year will be awarded at the opening night of the exhibition with the winner receiving a £250 prize and the opportunity to carry out an artist residency with Eden Arts at the Old Fire Station, Penrith as part of their Artist Spare Room scheme.
2019 winner Poppy Cookson, who celebrated graduating from the University of Cumbria just last week, went on to win a significant travel grant from the university and the Hadfield Trust. This allowed Poppy to visit Italy to explore this year’s Venice Biennale, one of the world’s largest international contemporary arts festivals, and she has also been accepted onto the university’s MA Fine Art programme.
The 2019 judges said of her work; ‘Poppy’s work deals with big political issues with a maturity beyond her years. She is definitely somebody to watch in the future’.
On winning, Poppy commented I am over the moon to win the award, I can’t quite believe it. It has been a fantastic opportunity and I am so glad I applied. I think this will definitely open doors for me and I am really excited for what is to come’.
The 2019 exhibition was judged by Maddi Nicholson, Art Gene; Joceln McGreggor, Contemporary Artist and DoReMi Residency; and Celia Burbush, winner of the Cumbrian Artist of the Year 2017.
Eden Arts is an award-winning arts organisation based in Penrith, Cumbria dedicated to creating and facilitating change through culture and arts activities. Eden Arts projects include The Winter Droving festival in Penrith which attracts audiences of over 25,000; Picnic Cinema, the North’s number one outdoor cinema; and Cine North, the UK’s largest community cinema scheme which operates across the whole of the North of England.
Artists aged between 15-24 yrs can enter by visiting www.edenarts.co.uk/ycaoty. More details available on the website. Deadline for entries is 2nd February 2020.
