Press Release
The Gibbes Museum of Art on Monday announced the 2021 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art. Each year, Society 1858, the museum's young professionals auxiliary group, awards a $10,000 cash prize to one artist whose work demonstrates the highest level of artistic achievement in any media, while contributing to a new understanding of art in the South. Past winners include Stephen L. Hayes (2020), Donté K. Hayes (2019), Leo Twiggs (2018), Bo Bartlett (2017), Alicia Henry (2016), Deborah Luster (2015), Sonya Clark (2014), John Westmark (2012), Patrick Dougherty (2011) and Radcliffe Bailey (2010). Submissions for 2021 will be accepted online at www.1858prize.org from Sept. 1 – Oct. 15, 2021.
“We are ecstatic to announce the return of this esteemed prize. With COVID-19 limiting opportunities for so many talented, Southern artists, we want to help motivate and validate them by supporting their artistic passion,” says Anne Siegfried, President of Society 1858. “Past winners often return to the Gibbes as Visiting Artists and have gone on to receive many accolades.”
Artists from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia are eligible to apply. All submissions are thoughtfully reviewed by a panel of visual arts professionals, Society 1858 representatives and Gibbes Museum of Art staff members. The winner will be awarded $10,000 and a feature at the Amy P. Coy Forum on Jan. 13, 2022. Two honorable mentions will be awarded $500 each.
Artists Must Submit:
- Completed registration form
- Brief artist statement (150 words or less)
- Resume or CV
- Portfolio of work (up to 10 images) including title, date, medium, and dimensions for each work
- $25 non-refundable entry fee
- Submit at www.1858prize.org
- For general questions about the 1858 Prize, please contact the Gibbes Museum of Art at 1858prize@gibbesmuseum.org
- For technical support, while submitting your application, please contact SlideRoom at support@slideroom.com
Winner and honorable mentions will be announced in early December 2021 on the 1858 Prize website and via press release.
