New Museums and Galleries Award Announced- The Ecclesiastical Original Print Award 2016

The London Original Print Fair has announced the launch of an exciting new purchase grant for museums and galleries – The Ecclesiastical Original Print Award, sponsored by Ecclesiastical Insurance

The Ecclesiastical Original Print Award is a new initiative, designed to enable a museum or gallery in the UK to acquire an original print for their collection. Applications are being invited from museums, public galleries and print collections across the UK. The winner will be invited to visit the London Original Print Fair at The Royal Academy of Arts from 4 – 8 May 2016, to spend the award on a print or prints at the Fair, to the value of £8,000.

Clare Pardy, Fine Art & Heritage Director at Ecclesiastical Insurance says: “As a specialist insurer of heritage buildings, museums and galleries, we have initiated this award with LOPF to raise the profile of printmaking. We hope that it will encourage a UK museum or gallery to consider their print collection and find the perfect acquisition at the London Original Print Fair.”

Castleacre Museums Director, Hugo Johnsen says ‘This new award presents a terrific opportunity for museums and galleries to enhance their collection. Ecclesiastical and the LOPF have worked together to ensure that the application is straightforward so we hope curators and directors will be encouraged to enter the selection process and apply for this brand new Museums and Galleries Award.’

The London Original Print Fair offers works ranging from rare Old Masters to newly published work by contemporary artists. Between them, the 50 international exhibitors cover most areas of printmaking. This generous grant from Ecclesiastical Insurance is designed to enrich British collections and help museums meet their acquisitions goals.

The deadline to apply for the the new award is 18 March.

A shortlist of five museums will be announced in mid-April. The London Original Print Fair is pleased to cover the cost of accommodation at a central London hotel for a curator from each of the shortlisted museums for the night of Wednesday, 4 May.

The winner will be announced at the beginning of Wednesday, 4 May’s opening reception.

Image: Anthony Frost, Orange Buzz Ohio 2010 Screenprint with woodblock