Turner Prize

Turner Prize
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Turner Prize
Awarded for	Contemporary visual art
Presenter	Tate
Country	United Kingdom
Year	1984

Turner Prize is an annual award recognizing a British visual artist for an outstanding exhibition or presentation. Established in 1984 and administered by Tate, it has become a focal point for contemporary art discourse in the United Kingdom, attracting participation from artists, curators, critics, institutions, and politicians. The Prize's nominations and exhibitions have generated debate involving museums, galleries, newspapers, broadcasters, and cultural commentators across Europe and beyond.

History

The Prize was inaugurated during the tenure of Nicholas Serota at Tate Britain and was named after J. M. W. Turner to promote contemporary painting and related practices. Early winners included Howard Hodgkin, Richard Deacon, Malcolm Morley, and Anish Kapoor—figures associated with galleries such as Whitechapel Gallery, Serpentine Galleries, and dealers like Gagosian Gallery. In the 1990s the Prize featured artists connected with the Young British Artists movement like Damien Hirst and Chris Ofili, generating coverage in outlets including The Guardian, The Times, and broadcasts on BBC Television.

Changes in administration, exhibition format, and venue have linked the Prize to institutions such as Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives, and festivals like Frieze Art Fair. Directors, curators, and critics from organizations including British Council, Arts Council England, and international museums have shaped the Prize amid wider debates involving cultural policy and arts funding during governments led by Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, and subsequent administrations.

Eligibility and Criteria

Eligibility rules require that nominees be artists born, resident, or working in the United Kingdom or make work substantially shown in UK institutions such as Imperial War Museums, Royal Academy of Arts, and regional galleries. The award emphasizes recent exhibitions or presentations at institutions like Tate Modern, Hayward Gallery, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Whitechapel Gallery, or project spaces affiliated with organizations such as Institute of Contemporary Arts.

Criteria historically prioritized innovation across media including painting, sculpture, installation, performance, video, and new media practices associated with studios, biennials like the Venice Biennale, and artist-run spaces. Submissions have been assessed against standards set by curators and critics from establishments such as National Galleries of Scotland, MoMA, and private foundations like Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

Selection Process and Jury

The jury is convened by Tate and typically comprises curators, critics, artists, and cultural figures drawn from institutions like MOCA, Centre Pompidou, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, National Portrait Gallery, and regional bodies. Shortlisting follows nominations by curators and directors from organizations including Whitechapel Gallery, Serpentine Galleries, Liverpool Biennial, and university art departments.

Final deliberations involve public presentations, gallery visits, and panel discussions with representatives from media outlets such as BBC Radio 4, Channel 4, and print platforms including The Independent and Daily Telegraph. Chairs and jury members have included figures from Tate Modern, British Council, Hayward Gallery, and international biennales.

Ceremonies and Venues

Ceremonies and exhibitions have been hosted at venues across the UK including Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool, Tate St Ives, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Royal Academy of Arts, and municipal galleries in cities like Glasgow, Liverpool, and St Ives. Prize exhibitions often tour or coincide with events such as the Liverpool Biennial or gallery programming at institutions like South London Gallery and Ikon Gallery.

Award presentations and related talks have taken place in auditoria associated with Royal Festival Hall, universities such as University of the Arts London, and festival stages at events like Frieze Art Fair. Broadcast ceremonies have appeared on BBC Two and coverage has been produced by organizations including Channel 4.

Controversies and Criticism

The Prize has attracted controversy over provocative works by nominees such as Tracey Emin, Chris Ofili, and Stuart Pearson Wright, provoking responses from politicians including Paul Keating-era commentators and local officials. Debates have involved public funding bodies like Arts Council England, nationalist politicians, and tabloid outlets including Daily Mail and The Sun. Accusations of sensationalism, market manipulation by dealers such as Saatchi Gallery-affiliated collectors, and disputes over curatorial taste have involved commentators from Artforum, Frieze, and ArtReview.

Legal and ethical disputes have arisen around works touching on themes related to institutions like Imperial War Museums and collections at National Gallery, prompting debates in venues including House of Commons and statements from ministers in administrations like that of Tony Blair. Some artists and commentators have criticized selection transparency and accusations of regional bias involving museums such as Tate Liverpool.

Winners and Nominees

Winners have included artists represented by galleries such as White Cube, Gagosian Gallery, and dealers who participate in international fairs like Art Basel. Notable winners and nominees span generations and practices: Howard Hodgkin, Anish Kapoor, Rachel Whiteread, Damien Hirst, Chris Ofili, Jeremy Deller, Grayson Perry, Laure Prouvost, Antony Gormley, Mark Leckey, Steve McQueen, and Helen Marten. Nominees often proceed to exhibitions at institutions like Tate Modern, Hayward Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Arts, and biennales including the Venice Biennale.

Impact and Cultural Significance

The Prize has influenced market trajectories affecting collectors, galleries, and auction houses including Christie's and Sotheby's and shaped careers through acquisitions by institutions such as Tate, British Museum, and regional museums like Mercer Art Gallery. It has fostered public engagement with contemporary art via media partnerships with outlets such as BBC, The Guardian, and Channel 4, and contributed to debates in academia at universities like Goldsmiths, University of London and Royal College of Art.

Cultural effects include increased tourism to host cities like Liverpool and St Ives, curricular references in art history programs, and a legacy of exhibitions informing global discourse at museums such as MoMA and Tate Modern. The Prize remains a contested but pivotal institution linking practitioners, critics, institutions, and publics across the contemporary art world.

Category:British art awards