The Atkinson wins first Ecclesiastical Original Print Award

The Atkinson wins first Ecclesiastical Original Print Award

PRINT FAIR

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The winner of the inaugural Ecclesiastical Original Print Award was today announced at the Royal Academy, as The Atkinson, Southport. As the recipient of this £8,000 award, The Atkinson will now be able to make an important addition to their collection and purchase a work from one of the 51 exhibitors at this year’s London Original Print Fair (LOPF). 

This new initiative from LOPF Director, Helen Rosslyn and Ecclesiastical Insurance’s Fine Art and Heritage Director, Clare Pardy, provides a bridge between curators of existing collections and the printmakers of today.  The Atkinson now have the opportunity to buy an outstanding and compelling original print at the 2016 Fair which runs from 5-8 May at the Royal Academy.

Drawing on their passion for keeping print collecting alive in Britain, Helen Rosslyn and Clare Pardy also devised the prize to raise the profile of original prints. Commenting on the announcement, Clare Pardy said “We are delighted that The Atkinson have won the inaugural award and look forward to hearing what they buy to add to their already impressive collection. Ecclesiastical is a specialist insurer of heritage buildings, private collectors, museums and galleries, and this Award shows our commitment to and belief in the importance of the nation’s collections.”

Chaired by the President of the Royal Academy Christopher Le Brun PRA, the judges chose The Atkinson for their passion for their print collection and commitment to increasing engagement with artists, schools, communities and visitors. The Atkinson plan to acquire a contemporary print which they will show at the centre of a major display.

Christopher Le Brun, PRA commenting on the five shortlisted organisations (The Atkinson, Southport; Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Bradford; the Graves Gallery, Sheffield; Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery and the University of Warwick Art Collection) said: “These five organisations represent a wide geographical spread and remind us that some of our strongest print collections are held in popular venues spread widely across the UK. They deserve to be better known. Speaking as an artist and printmaker myself I am delighted we can reward such exceptional passion and scholarship.”

Ends:

Notes to Editors

The Atkinson’s collection of prints was built with great insight by a curator, who was himself an artist printmaker. The works in the collection illustrate printmaking processes and techniques, celebrate the early 20th century revival of British printmaking, represent leading British artists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and also include outstanding works by Rembrandt, Matisse and Anders Zorn.  In The Atkinson’s second phase of collecting, from the 1950s onwards, acquisitions have had a strong contemporary focus with important works by Henry Moore, Elizabeth Frink, Patrick Heron, Howard Hodgkin, John Piper, Richard Hamilton, Eduardo Paolozzi, and most recently Craigie Aitchison, Bruce McLean and Paula Rego.

Chaired by Christopher Le Brun PRA, the judging panel for the award included art critic Susan Moore, Helen Rosslyn, Director of LOPF and Clare Pardy, Fine Art and Heritage Development Director at Ecclesiastical

London Original Print Fair 2016
Thursday 5 May: 10am – 9pm, Friday 6 May: 10am – 10pm
Saturday and Sunday 7/8 May: 10am – 6pm
Web: www.londonprintfair.com 
Twitter: @Londonprintfair   #LOPF
General enquiries: Tel: +44 (0)20 7439 2000
General email: info@londonprintfair.com
Location: Main Galleries, Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, London, W1J OBD
Ecclesiastical Original Print Award sponsored by:

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For press information for London Original Print Fair please contact:

Susie Pickering and Alison Wright                  E: press@londonprintfair.com  

Susie M:  +44 (0)7971 007 576              Alison M: +44 (0)7814 796 930

T:  +44 (0)1608 810 654                         T: +44 (0)1608 646 175

 

Posted on 6 May 2016 under Just announced

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