$50,000 Hudgens Prize Competition Returns

9/7/2012

Georgia Residents to Compete for Solo Exhibit with Cash Award

The prestigious Hudgens Prize Visual Arts Competition is back this year, with a stunning cash award of $50,000 and an invitation for a solo exhibition for one very talented artist. The Hudgens Prize is one of the largest art awards given in the entire nation, and is open only to Georgia residents. The purpose of the competition is to elevate and promote the arts in Georgia, as well as to offer a transformational opportunity for the winning artist.

"We are extremely excited to again be able to offer such an important award competition to the artists of Georgia," said Teresa Osborn, Executive Director at the Hudgens. "Besides bringing the work of all the entered artists to the attention of world class jurists, the competition awards a large cash stipend to the winning artist that should allow them to concentrate fully on their art for the following year, without financial strain and distractions, which is truly an invaluable opportunity." 

The Hudgens Prize was last awarded in 2010, to artist Gyun Hur of Atlanta. Hur received both national and international recognition following her receipt of the award, including selection for an Artadia Award and exhibits in Chicago and Hong Kong, and had her solo exhibit at the Hudgens in December 2011.

"We are strongly committed to supporting the arts and artists in Georgia," said Angela Nichols, Programming and Education Director at the Hudgens. "The Hudgens Prize is underwritten by an anonymous donor and we are greatly honored that their support allows us to offer this exciting competition."

An important addition to the competition this year is the formation of the Hudgens Prize Advisory Committee, made up of Georgia arts leaders: Susan Bridges, Tina Cox, Jerry Cullum, Susannah Darrow, Julia Fenton, Gyun Hur, Marianne Lambert, Tina Lilly and Michael Rooks. This committee will help guide the shape and form of the Hudgens Prize competition.

The Hudgens Prize competition is open to any individual artist living as a full time resident in the state of Georgia, age 18 and up.  Visual artwork of any medium will be considered, but works previously exhibited at the Hudgens are ineligible and all work must have been completed within the last two years. Entry requires a $30 non-refundable fee, and entitles each artist to submit up to five entries.

Competition entries are to be submitted online via digital upload, and will be accepted between November 1, 2012 and February 1, 2013.  Artists may visit the Hudgens' website starting November 1, 2012, to access the link for entering their works. There will also be a helpful video tutorial, available on the Hudgens' website starting October 1, 2012, explaining the online submission process.

A jury panel, to be announced shortly, will review the images and artist statements in February of 2013, and will select four artists to display their work in the Finalist’s Exhibition. Each of the four Finalists will receive a $1,500 cash stipend to help cover expenses relating to the exhibition, such as materials, framing, transportation of artwork, etc. 

The Hudgens Prize will be awarded by the jury panel based on in-person visits to the four finalist's studios and the works on view in the Hudgens Prize Finalist's Exhibition, to open on June 8, 2013.  The $50,000 prize winner will be announced at the Hudgens Prize Award Celebration, which will take place in August.

For more information and the full Rules of Entry, please visit the Hudgens' website at www.thehudgens.org.

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About Hudgens Center for the Arts:
The Hudgens Center for Arts is a non-profit organization that has been focused on the arts since its establishment in 1981. The Hudgens'mission is to bring art lovers, leaders and learners together through quality programs and exhibits. That mission is accomplished through visual arts initiatives, such as year round fine art exhibits and classes for all ages, and community arts initiatives, which reach out to underserved populations.

Find out more information about art exhibits and events at the Hudgens.