At UKNA, we are committed to creating pathways for everyone to engage with the contemporary art world, fostering a vibrant and diverse creative economy in the UK. Our mission is to build a brighter future for emerging artists, regardless of their background or education. Our latest publication, Sharing Our Value, explores the impact we’ve had since our inception, showcasing how we nurture creativity, foster collaboration, and empower new artists.
Read MoreUK New Artists is proud to announce that we have been awarded the British Council Catalyst Grant, Igniting UK-Kenya Creative Collaborations.
The British Council has selected 19 innovative projects to receive Catalyst Grants. They aim to catalyse new connections, exchanges, and collaborations between artists, creative practitioners, and cultural organisations in the UK and Kenya. UKNA will collaborate with Jukwaa Arts Productions (JAP) based in Mombasa, Kenya.
Read MoreJoining Transition + Transit artist Elaheh Raofi and UK New Artist of the Year 2023 Finalist Parham Ghalamdar for their conversation, you can expect to learn about the Persian influences woven into their work, their artistic practices, and their experiences as early career artists.
Read MoreIn June 2024, FABRIC and UK New Artists came together to collaborate on ‘You Are Welcome’, a project that formed part of ‘Transform, a City Takeover’, led by New Art Exchange. FABRIC and UK New Artists, both champions of underrepresented talent, partnered for the 'You are Welcome' project to explore how small, everyday gestures can contribute to building a more inclusive environment.
Read MoreFor the first time in Nottingham, UK New Artists together with Parham Ghalamdar will be hosting a ‘Divine Dining’ event in the heart of the city. As part of ‘Transform, a City Takeover’ this one-of-a-kind event offers a series of courses inspired by Iranian culture, presented on handmade ceramics. This three-course menu with wine has been developed and designed in collaboration with Nottingham-born chef Matthew Scott, currently the Chef Patron of ‘PAPI’ located in London's East End and is offered at a modest price of £25.00 per person. Booking is essential as places are limited.
Read MoreUK New Artists and 4C Group are delighted to announce that the third recipient of the bursary is Jamaican poet based in Bucks, Courtney Conrad.
UKNA and global company 4C Group launched this new, exciting partnership in 2022, creating valuable opportunities for UKNA Alumni artists over the next three years. UKNA and 4C Group recognise the difficulties faced by those who would struggle to further their creative career without support, and a key component of the partnership is a significant investment with an annual 4C Group bursary. The bursary, managed by UKNA for twelve months, offers a £10,000 investment to support the artist's professional practice and creative development.
Read MoreThe New Artists Collective #2 is a cross-disciplinary group of 12 artists, who will be working collaboratively for six months as part of UKNA’s second iteration of ‘Taking Place’ (People, Place and Practice), embarking on an exciting journey in Derby; sharing their work, undertaking residencies and collective activities.
Read MoreArtist William Bacon has won the People’s Choice Award for his ‘Confetti’ series in the 2023 Robert Walters UK New Artist of the Year Award, in collaboration with Saatchi Gallery.
Read MoreThe Robert Walters Group UK New Artist of the Year Award saw its fourth iteration take place on 9 November 2023. In a VIP Awards evening held at the Saatchi Gallery, London, Sofia Laskari took the crown as the winner of the 2023 Award, with Kim Thompson as the runner-up. Now it's over to the public to cast their votes for their favourite artist. The People's Choice Award will provide the artist with the highest number of votes a future opportunity with UKNA. Voting for the People's Choice Award will conclude on 10 December 2023, and the winner will be announced on 12 December 2023.
Read MoreOn Thursday 10th November Sofia Laskari was crowned as the winner of 2023 Robert Walters UK New Artist of the Year Award in a VIP awards evening held at the Saatchi Gallery, London.
Sofia Laskari was the recipient of the £10,000 cash prize – out of a possible 1,600 entries - presented by global recruitment consultancy Robert Walters, after being selected ahead of the other nine shortlisted artists for work submitted within the brief of ‘The Journey of Self-Actualization: Exploring the Illusion of Greener Grass and the Pursuit of the Dream’.
Read MoreUK New Artists and The MashUP are excited to collaborate and spotlight the thriving visual arts community in Lincoln and Lincolnshire. We've selected a group of artists through an open call to be part of the 'Artists in the Now' exhibition, taking place in Lincoln as part of UKNA’s ‘Weekend Celebration of Creativity’. This exhibition features 10 new and emerging visual artists from the region, highlighting the diversity of artistic voices in Lincoln and Lincolnshire.
Read MoreNow in its fourth year, this event highlights the work of ten exceptional artists who will have been selected for the Robert Walters UK New Artist of the Year Award taking place at the prestigious Saatchi Gallery in London on Thursday 9 November 2023. During the VIP awards evening, the overall winner of the £10,000 cash prize will be announced.
Read MoreUKNA's Creative ThinkTank members are inviting you to share your stories of overcoming challenges on your creative path. From navigating the intricacies of motherhood, parenthood, race, gender, age, and geography, to funding hurdles and evolving cultural landscapes, we're eager to hear it all. Your unique experiences are the heart of our mission, inspiring change and shaping the future of the creative sector.
Read MoreWith a passion for supporting talent, Garth Gratrix has been key in shaping the Robert Walters Group UK New Artist of the Year Award since its inaugural edition in 2019. They have brought invaluable insights and expertise to the award, provided significant support to emerging artists and created a wonderful platform for their work over the last five years. As well as the Robert Walters Group UK New Artist of the Year Award, Gratrix has curated numerous large-scale group exhibitions with UKNA including The Beginning, Seoul, South Korea.
Read MoreThe Call for Entries for the highly anticipated Robert Walters Group UK New Artist of the Year Award 2023, in collaboration with Saatchi Gallery, are now open. Get ready to meet our panel of judges! We are delighted to have such a stellar judging panel for this year’s award.
Our judging panel will assess entries according to the criteria outlined in the artist's brief. They will be searching for artists who demonstrate significant potential, a unique artistic voice, and exceptional talent.
Read MoreAgnes Ársælsdóttir offers an intriguing and thought-provoking discussion, providing a unique insight into the process of using nature and landscape as a central part of creative practice. In this discussion, Agnes opens a gateway to a whole new realm of perception and engagement, inviting us to reimagine our relationship with the world.
Read MoreDiscover how Ioney utilises archives as a powerful method of creative research. In this thought-provoking talk, Ioney reflects on her spoken word practice, providing valuable insights into her artistic process and archives' transformative role in shaping her work.
Read MoreUKNA and global company 4C Group launched this new, exciting partnership in 2022, creating valuable opportunities for UKNA Alumni artists over the next three years. UKNA and 4C Group recognise the difficulties faced by those who would struggle to further their creative career without support, and a key component of the partnership is a significant investment with an annual 4C Group bursary. The bursary, managed by UKNA for twelve months, offers a £10,000 investment to support artist's professional practice and creative development.
Read MoreWe’re over halfway through the Call for Entries for the UKNA 4C Bursary 2023/2024, and it’s time to meet the selection panel! We are delighted to have such a stellar panel made up from our board of Trustees, Creative ThinkTank, our sponsors 4C Group and the wider arts sector.
Read MoreThe winner of the 2022 Robert Walters Group UK New Artist of the Year Award, Habib Hajallie talks about his work with UK New Artists, winning the Robert Walters UK New Artist of the Year Award and what it’s meant to him to exhibit at the prestigious Saatchi Gallery. He also shares insights into his creative practice and process, his sources of inspiration, top tips on becoming a full-time artist and how to look out for artist opportunities and residencies.
Read More
