Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Branch Art Prize and Exhibition 2022

Open Call for Artwork Entries - Deadline: 6th February 2022

The Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Branch Art Prize is a biennial competition open to all who live, work or study in the BA postcode area.

The theme for 2022 is Hope and Humanity in the Commonwealth. The art prize and exhibition will take place with a launch event and an awards ceremony in the centre of Bath at 44AD artspace.

The aim of the RCS Bath Art Prize is to promote awareness of the important work of the Commonwealth and its values.

There are no entrance or gallery fees to enter the Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Art Prize and Exhibition: Hope and Humanity in the Commonwealth.

Age Group Categories

11 years and under
1st Prize
2nd Prize
11 - 15 years
1st Prize
2nd Prize
16 - 18 years
1st Prize and School Exhibition prize (to be held at 44AD)
2nd Prize

A prize giving ceremony will take place on 13th March 2022.

Artwork submission criteria

The theme for 2022 is Hope and Humanity in the Commonwealth.
The entry limit for The Art of Communication is four works per individual.
All 2D and 3D art media submissions are encouraged, including and not limited to painting, photography, printing, performance, film and sound installation.
Artworks must not exceed 100 cms x 100 cms.
All accepted artworks must be ready to hang on submission.
Framed work to be presented in either black or white frames.
All artworks on display in Hope and Humanity can be made available for sale, with 30% sales commission going towards the Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Branch and 44AD artspace.

How to Enter

Please email digital images of your submission/s to RCSBathART@gmail.com
It is important that you include your full name and medium of the work with your email.
Successful artworks will be selected via a panel of judges.

Some dates to remember

Deadline for all submissions is Sun 6th February 2022.
Accepted exhibitors will be contacted by Wed 9th February 2022.
Accepted artwork is to be brought to 44AD artspace on Sun 27th February 2022.
Exhibition launch event will take place on Thurs 3rd March 2022 (6pm - 8pm).
Awards ceremony will be held on Sun 13th March 2022.
Hope and Humanity in the Commonwealth exhibition will be on display 4th - 14th March 2022.

Meet our Judges

We are delighted to introduce you to our wonderful panel of judges.

Young Artists’ Prize category Judges

Marc Parrett

Marc Parrett is a puppet man…. mostly. He makes puppets and directs puppets; he makes theatre shows, animated installations, performance art, films, and street theatre also. He was a studio artist at 44AD artspace from 2013 to 2017 where he exhibited his Arts Council funded animated installation ‘Welcome to Octoville’ twice. He currently lives in Leeds and is the artistic director of Grandly Strange Puppet Theatre.

Dr Janet Rose

Dr Janet Rose is currently Principal of Norland College, a specialist education and training HEI for early years practitioners. She is a former Reader in Education (Associate Professor) and has led various undergraduate and post-graduate degree programmes at several universities, as well as various research projects. She has undertaken numerous keynotes at both national and international conferences, most recently at Harvard University and in Australia. Her work focuses on behaviour and wellbeing and trauma informed practice, but includes work on leadership within educational institutions. Janet has also undertaken training for a number of Local Authorities and professional organisations and is the author of numerous academic and professional publications. Her most recent include co-authoring a book on Emotion Coaching and one on Health and Well-being in Early Childhood. She is the co-founder of Emotion Coaching UK and a Fellow of the HEA. She is also an Associate and Trustee of several organisations.

Artists’ Prize category Judges

Hetty Dupays

Hetty Dupays completed her Masters in Fine Art (Painting) at Bath Spa University in 2004 and since then her energy, enthusiasm and skills have been largely directed towards the development and growth of Art at the Heart of the RUH (AATH) and advocating the benefits of participation in the arts, heritage and design in a hospital environment. Her particular passion is art and design in the built and natural environment.

River is the Venue (RIV) has been an AATH highlight; a partnership project with 44AD artspace and research academics at the University of Bath where community engagement and collaborative activities through the arts and science offered a gateway to immerse these disciplines as one.

Revd Stephen Girling

Revd Stephen Girling joined Bath Abbey in 2015 as Missioner. He is responsible for the outward facing work of the Abbey in the city and for communicating the Abbey’s Christian foundation to visitors. He is also the Area Dean of Bath, with oversight responsibilities for the Anglican churches in the city. After five years as a defence scientist, Stephen was ordained in 1991 and has served in suburban and rural parishes. He has a Masters in Theology, Imagination and Culture and is currently writing a book on portraiture, to help readers engage with the subject of a portrait using a method of meditation commonly used to engages with subjects of religious icons.

About The Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Branch

The Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District is an educational charity, working in Bath and the surrounding area to sponsor educational travel and associated projects - with the aim of promoting international understanding through the vehicle of the modern Commonwealth.

RCS Bath is a branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society, which is a non-governmental organisation with a mission to uphold the values of the Commonwealth Charter, promoting conflict resolution, peacemaking and democracy to improve the lives of citizens across the member states of the Commonwealth.

www.rcsbath.org

The modern Commonwealth was established in 1949 as an association of free and equal sovereign states which had been part of the British Empire but were now independent. There are now 54 member states, with a combined population of 2.2 billion (approximately 30% of the world's population).

The Commonwealth is an association of governments and peoples, built around shared language, institutions, challenges, aspirations and values. Unlike most other international associations, the Commonwealth works on a consensus model and membership is voluntary, predicated primarily on a country’s commitment to upholding shared values and principles, including the protection and promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Hope and Humanity in the Commonwealth
Amidst a global pandemic, the past year has been a tough one for humanity, but it has also highlighted the wonderful spirit of human nature working collectively and pushing forward on a global scale.
Hope has come from the courage of doctors and nurses working tirelessly in the community, the innovation and determination of scientists pioneering vaccinations and medical advancements, the wisdom and compassion of teachers, to the neighbour who makes a kind gesture.

We are all connected. What unites us is our common humanity.
Desmond Tutu (Human Right’s activist and winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace)

Some keywords and ideas
The condition and positive attributes of being human. Quality of life (material and spiritual). Working together. Respect. Shared goals. Altruism. Democracy. Human Rights. Acceptance. Freedom of Expression. Principles and Values. Tolerance and Respect. Understanding.
Strengths of Humanity: Love, Kindness and Compassion.
Expectation. Aspiration. Ambition. Optimism.

Symbols of Hope
Bird of Hope: Dove. Flower of Hope: Snowdrop - celebrated as one of the first signs of new spring life, symbolising hope.
#hopeandhumanity #strongertogether

RCS Bath Art Prize 2022 Announcement Film
RCSBath Young Artists Prizes

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