The Access ART X Prize awards early-career artists from Africa and its Diaspora with opportunities to develop their practices, with the intention of setting them up for the highest levels of success on the global stage.
In its initial iteration, the Prize was created to bolster the careers of emerging Nigerian artists, after identifying the absence of infrastructure that exists for contemporary art within the country. For its 2022/3 edition, the Prize platform has evolved to include an additional award, now open to emerging artists from the rest of Africa and its Diaspora, in a bid to buttress sustainable careers for a wider range of artists.
The ART X Prize now awards two exceptional emerging artists with funding, tailored mentoring support, and opportunities for cultural exchange, enabling them to complete compelling, ambitious projects that will further their careers and challenge the expectations of audiences across the world.
One artist will be selected from Nigeria, who will undergo a residency at Gasworks in London from July to September 2023. Another artist from Africa / the Diaspora will be selected to undergo a residency at Yinka Shonibare’s GAS Foundation in Lagos from September to November 2023. The residency awards cover the travel, accommodation and stipend costs for the winners. Both artists will also be granted exhibitions at the ART X Lagos fair in November 2023, supported by grants of $10,000 each towards their exhibitions.
