Sovereign European Art Prize
Designed by Candlestar for the Sovereign Art Foundation, the European Art Prize was launched on 7 April 2005 at London's Hayward Gallery, South Bank Centre. Development of the prize involved the recruitment of a European group of expert nominators and a high level panel of judges led by Sir Peter Blake and including Jarvis Cocker, Tim Marlow (White Cube) and several Directors of major European galleries and organisations such as the Gulbenkian and the Rijksakademie.
The European Art Prize runs on the same format as the Sovereign Foundation’s Asian Art Prize. Entry is by nomination, and all nominated artists are invited to enter by submitting a digital photograph of their submission. These are then judged by a panel of art experts and professionals who select a shortlist of 30 entries. The Prize exhibition is held at a major London gallery, and there is also a special prize voted for solely by the public who can cast their votes at the exhibition or on-line.
After the Exhibition the final 30 selections, apart from the winning work which becomes property of the Sovereign Art Foundation, are auctioned off at a special charity event. Half of the proceeds go to the artists, whilst the remainder is used to support the work of the Foundation.
As well as acting as the artistic and administrative hub of the prize, Candlestar has secured important partnerships with Bonhams, the Guggenheim, the A Foundation and Kids Co.