The Newbery Arts Prize

Around the world artists are putting together their entries for this presitigious competition

- Helen Stiles

Since the launch of the Newbery Arts Prize on 15 May there has been an excited flurry of interest from artists around the globe. Entries are already being submitted from both the UK and internationally, just as Francis Henry Newbery (1855-1946) experienced 145 years ago.

The ambitious young Dorset artist, who lived in Bridport, established the competition on his 20th birthday offering a prize of 100 guineas. A year later, over 800 artists from around the world filled the Royal Albert Hall in London with over 3,500 works of art.

“Taking into account all the factors that equate to the original 100 guinea offering by Newbery we calculated the sum to be £17,830…so we’ve rounded it up to £25,000 for the winner of each discipline, there are three categories, so the prize fund is £75,000,” says Jeremy Gower, one of the directors of the event and MD of Henry Newbery and Co. which has its HQ in Bridport.

“Furthermore, there will be 303 finalists, 101 from each of the disciplines. And all the finalists will have their work exhibited.”

Jeremy goes on to explain that there are plans in place for a spectacular touring exhibition in some of the world’s most prestigious galleries including London, Paris, New York, Mumbai, Beijing, Glasgow and finally back to Newbery’s home town of Bridport in Dorset.

“However, because of the current viral pandemic we are not able to confirm any of the galleries as yet, but we are monitoring the global situation and making plans accordingly.”