Wells Art Contemporary (WAC) has announced its 2023 shortlist and exhibition, set to showcase contemporary art from around the world in Britain’s first gothic cathedral, Wells Cathedral, Somerset. The exhibition will be free to the public and run from Saturday, 5 August to Saturday, 2 September 2023, with a private viewing scheduled for Friday, 4 August.
The WAC exhibition received an overwhelming response, with 3,000 submissions from 1,650 artists across 55 countries.
Besides artists living and working in the four nations of the UK, entries were received from 55 countries on six continents, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam.
Over 160 works have been selected for the WAC 2023 exhibition, including work by artists from Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Spain, Slovakia, Panama, and the United States. The UK is also strongly represented.
The following prizes will be awarded at the Private View to outstanding works in the 2023 exhibition:
- Howden Art Award: £2,000 awarded to one artist selected by Howden Group.
NG Art Creative Prize: a two-week residency at NG Art Creative Residency & Gallery in Provence, France. - Student Prize: £1,000 awarded to a current fine art student aged under 26 by Tracey Grace.
- Young Printmakers Award: £500 awarded to one printmaker aged under 35 selected by Nana Shiomi.
- People’s Choice Prize: £500 awarded to one artist selected by visitors of the exhibition.
- JGM Gallery Prize: works by selected artists will be showcased online by JGM Gallery.
- Parker Harris Mentoring Prize: a one-to-one mentoring session covering all aspects of professional development to a selected artist.
- Somerset Art Works Prize: a one-to-one mentoring session with Somerset Art Works.
- St Cuthberts Mill Award: 20 sheets of Saunders Waterford 300gsm worth over £120.
