Robert Walters UK New Artist of the Year Award 2022
Guidance and FAQs
Images
You may submit up to five images of the work/series that you are applying with. If successful in your application, these images will be used in press and promotional materials for the Robert Walters Award, and across UKNA’s and Robert Walters’ digital channels. Make sure these images are:
Clear and light, showing your work accurately and against a plain background where possible
For visual arts, sculpture, installation etc, it is helpful to see images of your work in situ to get a sense of the size and scale
For textiles and paintings or work with a high level of detail and technique, close-up images that clearly show detail are very useful, in addition to images that show the entire work
Permitted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, gif, tiff, tif
Images must be print quality – i.e. 300dpi - you can find this out by looking at the ‘properties’ of the image by right clicking on it in Finder (mac) or your Files window (Windows)
Equal Opportunities Questions
The questions at the end of the application form are required for equal opportunities and monitoring purposes. This information helps us understand whether we are reaching and engaging with a wide range of people from different backgrounds and locations. The answers you provide in this section will not be visible to the judges and will not be used to make a decision on your application. The answers will be collated anonymously in order for us to have a clear picture of the breadth of artists that have applied. If you would prefer not to disclose this information, you can tick ‘prefer not to disclose’, or leave the question blank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be aged between 18-30 to apply? No, as of April 2020 UKNA’s opportunities are open to artists at any age 18 or above who are within the first 10 years of their practice.
Do I have to be from the UK to apply? No, however you do need to have the right to live, work or study in the UK at the time of application.
Why do artists need to be within the first ten years of their practice? The first years of an artists’ practice can be difficult to navigate. We provide support and a cushion to enable artists to develop a sustainable career; investing at the point when the most help is needed.
Can a group/collective apply? No, the Robert Walters Award is open to individuals.
Do I need to be a graduate or have undertaken arts training to apply? No. We recognise that people enter artistic careers from a variety of routes and work is not evaluated on the academic background of the artist.
How do I apply for the Robert Walters Award? The application form is on Zealous.co, and linked on the UKNA and Robert Walters website. If you have access requirements which mean you cannot complete the online form please contact a member of the UK New Artists team on info@uknewartists.co.uk or by using one of our social media channels.
Can I send my application in the post or via email? Unfortunately we cannot accept submissions through the post or via email unless prior arrangement has been made due to an access requirement.
When can I apply? The form will be available from Thursday 30th June at midday until the closing date of 11.59 on Wednesday 31 August. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.
Is there a cost to apply? No, all UKNA activities are free to apply for.
Am I allowed to create new work for the Robert Walters Award? In order for the panel to make an appropriate assessment on your work and its suitability for the award, we ask that work submitted already exists and documentation (photography etc) is provided. The panel will not assess proposals, sketches or outlines for work not yet made or completed.
Can I save my application and return to it later? Yes, you can continue to edit and refine your application whilst the call for entries portal is open. For more questions about the application process, visit https://zealous.co/help/
Is it possible to amend my original submission? Applications cannot be amended once they have been submitted. If you believe you have made a mistake in providing your contact details please email UKNA.
Am I allowed to submit more than one piece of work? Each application should be for a single project/series, though this can include multiple outcomes, such as a collection of paintings or selection of photographs. Please let us know in your application the number of pieces you would wish to showcase. However, due to venue restraints it may not be possible to showcase all of your work, the decision as to what is showcased will be made by the curator. Two very distinct pieces of work or work with multiple outcomes should be submitted in separate applications.
If I am successful am I expected to attend the awards evening on Thursday 10th November at Saatchi Gallery? The 10 finalists are asked to do their best to attend the awards ceremony. The exhibition will be open on that day only, therefore it will be your opportunity to see your work in this prestigious space, and take part in press activity and photography documentation. The first and second prizes will be awarded at this event, so it is important that you are there, should you be chosen.
When will my work need to be ready for transportation to the Saatchi Gallery? Your work will need to be packaged and ready for transportation up to two weeks before the exhibition (from 26th October).
Who will be responsible for shipping my work to and from Saatchi Gallery? UKNA will organise the collection, shipping and return of your work to and from Saatchi Gallery. You will be responsible for packaging your work safely and securely, and will be required to print a label for the package which we will provide via email.
When will my work be returned to me following the exhibition? Usually, your work will be dispatched back to you within 1-2 weeks. If you are the first prize winner, your work will be exhibited at Robert Walters Group HQ in Covent Garden for 12 months. This is likely to be only one piece of work, rather than a full series.
Who is responsible for insuring my work if it is selected? UK New Artists and the partners will be responsible for insuring your work whilst it is in transit, during installation and during the public event.
If I am successful, what costs are covered for me to attend the event? Robert Walters Group will provide artists with a stipend of £200 per person to attend the event in London.
When will I hear back about my application? The 10 finalists will be notified no later than Friday 23rd September. You will receive an email from Zealous if your application has not been successful.
If my application is not successful, can I request feedback? UK New Artists is a small team, unfortunately we are unable to provide feedback on applications due to the high volume of submissions.
How do I make a general query about the event? If you need to contact us please email info@uknewartists.co.uk
You’re all set! THANK YOU, and we look forward to reading your application! Don’t forget: the deadline to apply is Wednesday 31st August at 11.59pm!