Glenfiddich Artists in Residence Prize
This year’s submissions for the annual Glenfiddich Artists in Residence Prize are officially open until June 30, 2017 as William Grant & Sons hosts the coveted art competition for a third year in Australia.
Celebrating Glenfiddich’s commitment to the arts and the communities it serves, the program awards the winning artist with a unique residency prize valued at $21,000, where they will work and live for three months at the Glenfiddich Distillery located in Dufftown, Scotland in 2018.
The competition is open to all Australian artists using any art medium, including but not limited to print, photography, animation, performance and installation. The winning artist will use the residency to create work taking inspiration from the characteristic location, history, heritage, people and craftsmanship of the Glenfiddich Distillery.
An exhibition of the five finalist’s work, along with a Glenfiddich pop-up bar, will take place at Sydney Contemporary, Australasia’s premier international art fair hosted at Carriageworks from 7 -10 September 2017.
Entries this year will officially close on June 30, with finalists announced in August.
Choosing the finalists will be a selection of illustrious judges including Barry Keldoulis (Group Fairs Director) who will lead the panel, Evan Williams (CEO of Williams Land Trust), Dr. Gene Sherman (Chairman and Executive Director of the Sherman Contemporary Arts Foundation), Mark Hughes (art advisor) and legendary actress Rachel Griffiths.
A winner will then be revealed in September following a final score of votes and the last round of judgment by Artist in Residence Program Curator, Andy Fairgrieve – the charming man-in-a-kilt who helps the winning artist bring their work to life each year, who will also be attending Sydney Contemporary and personally meeting each finalist.
Alongside 18 artists from around the world, the winner will work at the same location where William Grant & Sons crafted its world-renowned Glenfiddich whisky. Since its release in 1887 Glenfiddich has become the world’s bestselling and most awarded single malt whisky, having received more awards since 2000 than any other single malt Scotch whisky.
Australian winner of the 2016 residency Stanislava Pinchuk, a whisky-lover who started her art journey with roots in Graffiti, was chosen for her subtly and thoughtfully executed work. As an artist who maps landscapes, her residency will provide a unique opportunity for her to showcase the scenery through pin-hole drawings, sonic recordings, photographs and textiles.
The Artists in Residence Program has seen over 100 artists from 18 different countries take part in the summer residency program to date. Over the past 16 years the residency has become widely commended in the art world for its contemporary and supportive approach to art, which has seen artists producing incredible and diverse works which are finally exhibited in the Glenfiddich gallery.
Guests attending the Glenfiddich pop-bar at Sydney Contemporary Art Fair can also join the Glenfiddich Explorers Program – offering numerous benefits to whisky enthusiasts – and vote for their favourite piece of art. All Glenfiddich Explorers will then go into the running to win an exclusive collection of whiskies from the Glenfiddich range.
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