Wales Contemporary Art Competition returns to Milford Haven with £11,000 in prizes

We are once again supporting the Wales Contemporary Art Competition, an international open competition that was developed by the Waterfront Gallery in association with Welsh Government.

The Waterfront Gallery showcases the best artists and craft workers in west Wales with fine art, mixed media, sculpture, photography, ceramics, pottery, textiles, papier mache, jewellery, glass, metal, slate and woodwork. Much of this artwork is inspired by the Pembrokeshire landscape, and features the work of Adrian John, Rosemary Graham and Chris Prosser to name a few.

Wales Contemporary celebrates everything that makes Wales Welsh by inviting artists to submit work that is inspired by ancient heritage, art history, traditions, landscapes (rural, urban or political) and contemporary culture. Entries can be 2D and 3D artworks in any medium, excluding photography and film, and the deadline for entries is Tuesday 14th April.

Milford Haven itself could provide inspiration for this competition, with its own fascinating history. Sir William Hamilton settled Quaker families from Nantucket and established the town of Milford as a whaling station in 1793, and the Waterfront Gallery is actually housed in the Old Sail Loft, a Grade II listed building which serviced the Nantucket Whaling ships that supplied oil to meet the demand for street lighting across UK cities. There’s also the story of how the fishing industry took off here when the first steam trawler ‘Sybil’ entered Milford Docks in 1888, and many other stories that could form the basis of a captivating piece.

The submissions will be judged by a selection panel including artist Basil Beattie (RA), painter Gerda Roper, and sculptor Sebastien Boyesen. They will then be displayed at an exhibition at the Waterfront Gallery here at Milford Waterfront from 13th June to 18th July, before moving to the Senedd and Pierhead Building in Cardiff from 5th August till the 10th September.

All exhibitors will be invited to a private viewing and prize giving at the Waterfront Gallery on 12th June when the following prizes will be presented:

• 1st Prize – £4,000
• Highly commended 2-dimensional work – £2,000
• Highly commended 3-dimensional – £2,000
• Young Artist Prize (25 and under) – £1,000
• Prize for artists born, educated or resident in Wales – £1,000

The following prize will be presented during the touring exhibition at the Senedd in Cardiff:

• Public choice – £1,000

We are looking forward to welcoming visitors, both old and new to the Waterfront Gallery and Milford Waterfront. We have a great selection of places to eat here serving fantastic Welsh produce, so visitors can make a day of it and have lunch here too.

Artists are invited to submit a maximum of three 2D or 3D artworks in any medium excluding photography and film. 2D works may be no larger than 140cm in any dimension; 3D works may be no larger than 50cm in any dimension. The submission fee is £15 for one work, £25 for two and £34 for three.

All applications must be made online and must be received by 5pm on Tuesday 14th April 2020.