Tuesday, August 19, 2014

ING Discerning Eye 2014 - Call for Entries

The call has gone out for the 2014 ING Discerning Eye art competition. 

Unfortunately it came out in July round about the time I was rushed off to hospital followed by enforced break and the last stages of my involvement with final proofs of my book. So there hasn't been a post on this blog until now!  This post seeks to remedy this - especially given the fact the deadline for entries fast approaches - 6th September 2014


Image from the Entry leaflet for the ING Discerning Eye 2014
Below you can find:
  • information about the exhibition - and the percentage of works which come from the open entry
  • a note about the judges - with links to websites
  • a summary of information about prizes
  • a summary of the information for artists e.g.  who can enter what etc.
  • information about the deadlines and dates and where to find information about regional collection points
  • links to websites and my blog posts showing images of the art selected and hung in past exhibitions for those unfamiliar with this art competition.

The competition is sponsored by ING Commercial Banking.

ING Discerning Eye 2014 - selection, exhibition and prizes


The first thing to say is that this competition generally enjoys a good reputation. It's getting better at providing relevant information for artists.

The percentage of the works exhibited which came from the open entry has been opaque in the past but this seems to have been addressed this year. I've been campaigning for some time for the percentage of works which come from the open exhibition to be made more explicit. This year the website states
Last year about 40% of the nearly 500 works exhibited were from the open submission.
This equates to c. 200 works from the open entry.

The exhibition is unusual due to the nature of the competition.
  • The focus is on small works
  • There are six selectors, each of which curates a small exhibition of a collection of work they like. This then creates a large exhibition made up of six smaller exhibitions which reflect the interests and tastes of the individual selectors.

Sometimes the exhibition is very eclectic. Sometimes it is really interesting - it all depends on who the selectors are, what their tastes are and how enthusiastic they are about putting on an exhibition.


Images, from left: Marguerite Horner, Holding onto the things I believe;
Isabel Langtry, Picasso’s Petals (detail); Sandra Lousada, Canary Wharf.
Courtesy of the artists and ING Discerning Eye

Exhibition - Mall Galleries, 13-23 November 2014


An exhibition of the work of selected and invited artists will be held at the Mall Galleries in London from Thursday 13th until Sunday 23rd November 2014.

The Panel of Selectors


The 2014 selectors are:
  • ARTISTS: 
    • Nicola Green and 
    • Emma Stibbon RA
  • ART COLLECTORS: 
    • Chris Ingram (Businessman, entrepreneur and art collector) and 
    • Dr Giles Brown (Scientist, collector and art patron); and 
  • ART CRITICS: 
    • Simon Martin (curator, writer and Artistic Director of Pallant House Gallery), and 
    • Helen Sumpter (Senior Editor, Art Review). 

Prizes


The prizes are of decent sums. The winning artist is also often asked to have a solo exhibition of their work at the ING offices in the City of London (this is a blog post about one that I went to - Susan Angharad Williams exhibits at ING)
  • ING Purchase Prize £5000
  • Discerning Eye Founder’s Purchase Prize in honour of Michael Reynolds £2500
  • ING Staff Purchase Prize £1000
  • Discerning Eye Chairman’s Purchase Prize £1000
  • Meynell Fenton Prize £1000
  • Benton Purchase Prize £1000
  • Humphreys Purchase Prize £750
  • Discerning Eye Sculpture and 3D Work Prize £250
  • Regional Entry Prizes: up to 8 prizes of £250 each awarded to an outstanding entry from the national regions.

How to enter the ING Discerning Eye 2014


Who can enter?<



  • artists who were born or are currently resident in the UK

What kind of artwork is eligible?


  • all artwork must be an original creation by the artist. This usually means the artist must be able to assert copyright (i.e. the work is not derivative) and the work has not been copied from another artwork or photograph.
  • Painting, prints, drawing, photography and sculpture are all accepted.
  • Maximum size limit: 20 inches / 50 cms INCLUDING THE FRAME. Works exceeding these dimension in any direction will be rejected.
Maximum size of work2D – 20” x 20” (50 x 50 cm) including frame3D – 20” x 20” x 20” (50 x 50 x 50 cm) including base/stand
  • Up to six works can be submitted for competition.
  • All works must be for sale. This is essential / not optional. Commission is charged at 40% + VAT. Price entered on the entry form is the catalogue selling price from which commission and VAT payable is deducted.

You need to note that the entry fee is £10 per work.  That's not an unreasonable sum. Some 300 artworks generating £3,000 will not be hung in the exhibition.  My personal view is that any open competition should have a much higher percentage of artworks from the open entry as otherwise it looks as if the unsuccessful entries are subsidising the exhibition of works by selected artists. This to my mind could give the impression of patronage of more successful artists at the expense of less successful artists.  Given the exhibition is being sponsored by a bank this looks odd to say the very least.

How to enter:


  • Paperwork
: Download the documentation for entries that you need directly using these links:

  • complete and sign the entry schedule
  • Provide a digital image of each work. I didn't understand this bit. The leaflet suggests it it's only those selected for exhibition and the website suggests it's everybody - and NEITHER indicate in what format this image should be submitted, any parameters re. format or size of file nor how it should be submitted!  The really important thing is to make sure you take a decent photograph and create a digital file BEFORE you submit the work!

  • Provide a digital image of each work.We will need a digital image of your work if it is selected so please provide one for all works being submitted. It will be used for the online gallery on this web site
    • label each work LEGIBLY in block capitals and attach to work
    • All 2D works should be delivered unwrapped, although corner and edge protection on paintings is permissible.
    • take your labelled artwork and entry schedule to a regional collection point or 17 Carlton House Terrace by the deadline for that location.

    Entry forms and further details are available from: www.parkerharris.co.uk

    For any queries please contact Parker Harris
    • on 01372 462190 
    • or de@parkerharris.co.uk
    • or Parker Harris, 15 Church Street, Esher, Surrey KT10 8QS. t. 01372 462190

    Deadline for entries


    The final hand in days in London are 5 & 6 September 2014

    Pick up points for regional entries


    There are regional collection points in: Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Doncaster, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Kendal, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Penzance, Plymouth and Southampton. Works are submitted to regional collection centres, or on the final hand in dates to the Mall Galleries in London on 5 and 6 September 2014.

    The schedule for pick up dates and times is on the website (scroll down)

    More information about the ING Discerning Eye art competition - artwork and selected artists


    You can see images of works selected in past exhibitions in the archive.
    All of our past exhibitions are archived here. Since 2008, the archive has included images of all works. The archive is indexed by both artist and selector and there is a full site index available too.
    You can also find out about selected artists - and see their websites - and what the artwork looked like in the exhibitions in my blog posts below.

    2013:
    2012
    2011
    2010
    2009
    2008
    2007

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