Having no curatorial experience myself it was an illuminating conversation as to how to put a prize exhibition together, and as usual in the arts, resourcefulness and ingenuity are crucial to putting on any exhibition. But a competition adds it's own levels of complexities that give pause for thought. How many of us visit an exhibition and have a clue about the hard work, complex decisions, ego massaging, anxious waiting for or writing the copy for the programme, construction work, international shipping, negotiations with private collectors and galleries that happen behind the scenes? (That's just a small part of what I heard!)
In the next weeks we will be paying special attention to what it's like in Leeds Art Gallery in the run up to the private view and opening of the exhibition. We will meet some of the people who help to realise the exhibition, and also chat to previous winners and shortlisted artists to see where they are at in their careers, and what difference being nominated for a significant prize has made.
We will talk to the current shortlist nominees and ask them how they feel, why they choose the work they are presenting, and what interests they have outside the world of art!
What questions do you have? Feel free to leave a comment or two, and as long as they are not abusive we will do our best to find the right person to shed a light
