New Contemporaries

New Contemporaries is an organisation in the UK that works to support emerging artists at the beginning of their careers by introducing them to the visual arts sector and to the public through a variety of platforms, including an annual exhibition. Artists, whether still studying or having recently graduated, are given opportunities to make contacts and gain professional experience outside of their educational institutions. For the annual exhibition, artists are invited to submit a portfolio of work, from which a selection is made by a panel of judges. The selection is made by artists and writers, and often the selector will have previously been exhibited in a New Contemporaries show.

Founded in 1949 as the "Young Contemporaries", the exhibition has run annually as a means to provide an impartial and democratic stepping stone from arts education to the professional art sector. Established hierarchies that might otherwise become set within the art school system are able to be assessed without bias through the anonymous selection process.

Selectors have in the past included Ryan Gander (2013), Rosalind Nashashibi (2012), Pablo Bronstein (2011), Michael Landy (2007), Angus Fairhurst (2006), Jane and Louise Wilson (2005), Tacita Dean (2004), Rebecca Warren (2003), Sarah Lucas (2002), Chris Ofili (2001), Gavin Turk (2000) and Susan Hiller (1999).

An annual exhibition for the final selection of New Contemporaries is staged in a leading UK arts venue; New Contemporaries has exhibited as part of the Liverpool Biennial since its launch in 1999. The importance of regional impartiality is recognised in the anonymity of the contributor's school, age, and nationality during the selection process and by the annual exhibition having no fixed location. A catalogue is printed to accompany the exhibition each year.

Background

1949–1970

The first annual exhibition, initiated by Carel Weight for the British Society of Artists Galleries, was established in 1949 and known as 'Young Contemporaries'. In the foreword to the 1949 exhibition catalogue, Philip Hendy, then Director of the National Gallery, wrote of his "hope that it is only the first of many. That it may grown into an annual event."^[1] The early exhibition gathered much critical and audience attention. Howard Hodgkin recollected that “the most memorable event at the opening of the first show was the speech made by Philip Hendy. With extraordinary generosity and frankness and somehow with a lot of sympathy as well, he compared what he felt to be the bleak but possible heroic fate awaiting us when we left Art School to the cosy, hierarchical life of an Art Historian.”^[2]

From 1949 until 1969, the contributors were selected by artists and art specialists, but then in 1969 and 1970 students controlled selection themselves. Notable artists who participated in these early exhibitions include

Royal Academy, caused great controversy with one of the events nearly setting fire to the Royal Academy. Other sources claim funding was withdrawn because the organisation had dissolved into strife between college factions.^[4]

The exhibition was not staged again until 1974.

1974–1986

In 1973, tutors from some London colleges - including Gillian Ayres, Paul Huxley and William Tucker – grouped together to restore the exhibition. They took a year to draw up a new constitution, arrange a willing venue, and organise the selection process. Taking place at the

Camden Arts Centre

in 1974, the exhibition was renamed New Contemporaries.

The Guardian reviewed the 1975 show as being “low on razzmatazz and high on endeavour”. William Tucker wrote in the catalogue introduction that “the successful student these days is likely to be persuaded that is he an artist. Nothing could be further from the truth. What the NC should do is enable students, for a moment at last as artists, to take public responsibility for what that have made – absolutely... This is not an exhibition of protest, but could become the opportunity for commitment. It is the harder role.”[5]

The 1976 exhibition was staged at the Acme Gallery, 43 Shelton Street, Covent Garden

and included a programmes of Live Art,(May 31 until June 5), from Jeremy Diggle, Terry Duffy, Marty St James, Charlie Process, Elaine Shemilt, et al.

From 1978, the exhibition had an established exhibition venue in the

RB Kitaj, Bert Irvin, Michael Sandle, Richard Wentworth, and Derek Jarman. Artists who participated in the exhibition during this period include Helen Chadwick, Anish Kapoor (both 1977), Antony Gormley (1978), Mark Wallinger (1981), Peter Doig (1982), Dexter Dalwood (1983), and Catherine Yass

(1984).

1988–present

In 1987, the

British Telecom and since 2000 has been sponsored by Bloomberg. In 1996, the exhibition was invited to become an component of the Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art and has since been staged in the city every two years. New Contemporaries is also supported by the Arts Council England. During this recent period participants have included Damien Hirst, Glen Brown (both 1989), Simon Starling (1994), Natalie Finnemore (2012) and Hardeep Pandhal

(2013).

In 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the impact it had on the arts, New Contemporaries staged an online platform, selected by artists Alexandre da Cunha, Anthea Hamilton and Linder.^[7]

References

^ James, Phillip Bruton (1949). Young contemporaries 1949. London: Arts Council of Great Britain. p. 1.
^ Hodgkin, Howard (1986). New Contemporaries Past and Present. London: Arts Council of Great Britain. p. 1.
^ Lambirth, Andrew (1986). New Contemporaries Past and Present. London: Arts Council of Great Britain. pp. 10–11.
^ Lambirth (1986). New Contemporaries Past and Present. p. 16.
^ Tucker, William (1975). New Contemporaries 1975. London: Camden Arts Centre. pp. 1–2.
^ Lambirth (1986). New Contemporaries Past and Present.
^ "Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2020 Digital Platform". New Contemporaries. Retrieved 2021-01-29.

External links

Bloomberg New Contemporaries website

[1] James, Phillip Bruton (1949). Young contemporaries 1949. London: Arts Council of Great Britain. p. 1.

[2] Hodgkin, Howard (1986). New Contemporaries Past and Present. London: Arts Council of Great Britain. p. 1.

[3] Lambirth, Andrew (1986). New Contemporaries Past and Present. London: Arts Council of Great Britain. pp. 10–11.

[4] Lambirth (1986). New Contemporaries Past and Present. p. 16.

[5] Tucker, William (1975). New Contemporaries 1975. London: Camden Arts Centre. pp. 1–2.

[6] Lambirth (1986). New Contemporaries Past and Present.

[7] "Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2020 Digital Platform". New Contemporaries. Retrieved 2021-01-29.

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