The award aims to recognize and honor the talent from the world of Indian contemporary art
ŠkodaAuto India and Seventy Event Management Group have come together to create and present a prestigious award celebrating contemporary art in India called ‘The Škoda Prize’.
The Škoda Prize will be an annual celebration of outstanding work in contemporary art in the country. It is a first of its kind award that strives to recognize and reward young Indian artists under the age of 45. Each artist will be judged on the exhibitions, or other presentations of their body of work produced in the twelve months preceding the award.
The jury panel for the Award is chaired by one of India’s most prominent art experts, Mrs. Tasneem Mehta, who is the Managing Trustee and Honorary Director of the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum. Other Jury members include Mrs. Rajshree Pathy and Dr. Kavita Singh. Dr. Kavita Singh is a well-known art historian. She is Associate Professor at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Her publications include New Insights into Sikh Art (2002) and essays in several international and national journals and edited volumes. Rajshree Pathy is founder of Contemplate, an arts initiative that will collaborate with artists and art organizations. She is also Chairperson and Managing Director of the Rajshree Group of Companies. Apart from the Jury Panel, we also have an advisory committee headed by renowned art critic, Girish Shahane. Girish is an Independent Writer based out of Mumbai. His articles on art, film and cultural politics have been published in leading newspapers and journals in India and abroad. He writes a fortnightly column for Yahoo! India.
Speaking on ‘The Škoda Prize’, Mr. Thomas Kuehl, Board Member and Director Sales & Marketing, ŠkodaAuto India, said “Skoda has been a trend setter in providing clever & smart solutions for its consumer and art reflects a higher and an intellectual interpretation of the society at large. We look at this association as a great opportunity to provide a platform of recognition for the contemporary Indian artists who have been contributing richly to the global art scene. Škoda in India has positioned itself very successfully in the lifestyle space. Associating with art is a natural extension of the brand positioning for an audience aspiring for premium and clever choices in life. The Škoda Prize aims to be the ultimate recognition for quality in the art world endorsed and underlined by high priests of the Indian Art industry.”
Martin da Costa, CEO, Seventy Event Management Group added, “I am delighted that we are presenting the very first art award of its kind in India – The Škoda Prize. I am confident that the art fraternity and the large art loving audience will be happy to view the exhibitions and the show we will present as part of The Škoda Prize journey. The underlying objective of The Škoda Prize is to provide a platform for many more young artists and encourage them to create original works of art and reach new heights.”
Artists can enter their nominations for The Škoda Prize based on guidelines given on the official website www.theskodaprize.com. In addition to works entered into the nomination process by artists, the Advisory Committee has tied up with some of the best galleries across India who will nominate 3 artists each for the prize.
Top 20 shortlisted artists will be featured in The Škoda Prize Catalogue and the artworks of the final three artists will be exhibited in New Delhi. The final winner will be announced in January and shall be awarded Rs. 10,00,000 apart from earning the prestigious title of The Škoda Prize winner for the year 2010-2011.