RSA Blackadder Houston Mid-Career Painting Award in the UK

The aim of this award is to enable a committed painter to devote themselves exclusively to painting for a period of time of up to 26 weeks, which they would otherwise not be able to do, due to other commitments such as employment or caring responsibilities.

Prize Information

• Prize: £20,000

Eligibility Criteria

• Entrants must be mid-career painters who are at least 15 years out of art school or can demonstrate at least 15 years of substantive practice.
• Entrants must not currently be studying.
• The entrant’s practice must be predominantly based in painting, this can be in any medium or subject.
• Entrants must have been born or are currently living in Scotland (and have been for at least 3 years consecutively).
• Entrants must be able to devote themselves exclusively to painting for up to 26 weeks; for example, by taking a sabbatical from employment, or by taking a break from caring responsibilities.

Conditions of Entry

• The decision of the adjudicators is final and no correspondence can be entered into.
• The award funds can be used for anything that directly enables the winner to produce painting(s) (e.g. studio time, travel, living costs that allow the winner to take the necessary time out to create/produce; but the award should not be put towards framing costs and capital investment (e.g. camera, computer software, new studio kit).
• In the case of taking a sabbatical, proof from employer of agreement to this must be provided to the RSA prior to the allocation of funds.
• The award winner will be announced by end of November 2023 and the award should be completed within a 12-month period, beginning with the start of the project. The painter may take their break from employment/childcare etc. all at once, or in separate stages – provided it occurs within 12 months of its inception.
• The winner will be expected to submit a short report to the RSA which may be shared with the Blackadder Houston Trustees. This report must be submitted within 6 weeks of completion of the award.

Requirements

• Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria:
  • Someone that the judges consider would truly benefit from the opportunities that the funding might bring.
  • Coherency of proposed research and the potential to further develop and enhance practice.
  • Strong evidence the artist’s practice falls within the discipline of painting and mid-career status.
  • Quality of visual material submitted.
• Note: A crucial part of the selection process is based on the review of applicant’s visual material and as such they strongly encourage applicants to submit the highest quality visual material.

For more information, visit Royal Scottish Academy.