Grand Central partners with international art prize

Some of the world’s most exciting young artists and influential arts organisations will descend on York later this month for the launch of the 2018 Aesthetica Art Prize and a two-day Future Now symposium.

The Aesthetica Art Prize, which takes place from 18 May to 30 September at York Art Gallery, will showcase the talents of some of young artists from all over the world.

Grand Central is an official partner to the exhibition, providing travel from London for many of the delegates. “The prize and exhibition really help to consolidate York’s reputation as a major arts destination,” says Sean English, Grand Central’s chief operating officer.

York Art Gallery was named Visitor Attraction of the Year at this year’s York Tourism Awards and the York-based Aesthetica is one of the leading arts and culture magazines, with its art prize and film festival (November) popular fixtures on the UK culture scene.

The shortlisted artists for 2018 include: David Birkin (USA); Electra Lyhne-Gold (UK); Fabio Lattanzi Antinori (UK); Jiayu Liu (UK); Jukhee Kwon (Italy); Kenji Ouellet (Germany); Laura Woodward (Australia); Lisa Chang Lee (UK); Noémi Varga (UK); Peter Davis (UK); Reginald Van de Velde (Belgium) and Shauna Frischkorn (USA).

Says festival director Cherie Federico, “The 12 shortlisted artists push the boundaries of innovation, drawing upon social and political structures to question the values placed on the world around us.

The Future Now Symposium (17-18 May, York St John University), runs alongside the opening and is a two-day innovation and idea generation event encouraging attendees to consider the arts ecosystem within a broader social, political and professional context It will be attended by a range of delegates from the UK’s leading arts organisations, including Tate, V&A, Frieze and Baltic.

Federico says, “Every year, this prize becomes more ambitious and the works submitted and selected are becoming more dynamic.” She adds, “The events taking place at the Future Now Symposium across the two days are vital to stimulate discussion and generate new ideas in response to current trends.”

Notes for editors:

The Aesthetica Art Prize Exhibition runs 18 May-30 September at York Art Gallery. It is a celebration of emerging and established artists from across the world, inviting audiences to be inspired by a wealth of ideas and perspectives. Entries are open for the 2019 edition until 31 August.

www.aestheticamagazine.com/art-prize

• The Aesthetica Future Now Symposium takes place on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 May at York St John University. Attendees can either purchase a one-day or two-day Pass. A one-day pass entitles visitors to attend three sessionson either the Thursday or the Friday, while a two-day pass permits access to three sessions each day. A complimentary lunch is included with all passes. Thursday or two-day passes also include a free ticket to the Aesthetica Art Prize Private View. www.aestheticamagazine.com/future-now-symposium-2018

• The 2018 Aesthetica Art Prize Judging Panel includes: Amira Gad, exhibitions curator at the Serpentine Galleries; Ayo Adeyinka, director of TAFETA; Darren Pih, Exhibitions and Displays Curator, Tate Liverpool; Laurence Sillars, head of exhibitions at Henry Moore Institute, Maitreyi Maheshwari, programme director, Zabludowicz Collection; Mike Stubbs, director, FACT, Reyahn King, chief executive, York Museums Trust; Steven Gartside, Curator, Holden Gallery and Cherie Federico, director of Aesthetica

• Press images can be downloaded here

• Both the Art Prize and Future Now are hosted by Aesthetica Magazine

About Grand Central

Grand Central Railway Company Limited is an established train operator that provides direct rail connections from towns and cities in Yorkshire and the North East England with London.

Established in 2007, Grand Central celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2017. Customer satisfaction levels are consistently high and the rail company has just been named Britain’s best value rail operator for the fifth year in a row.

Grand Central operates West Riding Services between Bradford Interchange, Low Moor, Halifax, Brighouse, Mirfield, Wakefield Kirkgate, Pontefract Monkhill, Doncaster and London Kings Cross. The rail operator also operates North East services between Sunderland, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton, Thirsk, York and London Kings Cross.

Grand Central is part of the Arriva group, one of the leading providers of passenger transport in Europe. Arriva employs more than 60,000 people and delivers more than 2 billion passenger journeys across 14 European countries each year.

For further information on this or Grand Central’s community and stakeholder activity, please contact:

Hazel Davis – hazeldavis@gmail.com

For all other Grand Central enquiries please contact:

Sarah Banks/Anna Hodgson on 0191 261 4250

GrandCentral@gardiner-richardson.com
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