The Sovereign Art Foundation

The 25,000 Euro Sovereign European Art Prize Winner Announcement 17/06/2010

David Birkin has been selected by the prize judges, Tim Marlow (White Cube), Philly Adams (Saatchi Gallery), Gavin Turk (artist), Robert Punkenkhofer (Art & Idea), Joseph Backstein (Moscow Biennale) and Nasser Azam (artist) as the winner of this year's EUR25,000 Sovereign European Art Prize. It is the only pan-European contemporary art prize, with artists nominated by art experts from throughout the continent.
The artist was chosen from 29 other artists who were shortlisted from over 300 entries. Born in 1977, David Birkin is a British artist currently completing his MA at the Slade. His winning work is a photographic diptych from the artist's series 'Confessions,' in which he invited close friends and family to privately confess a secret to the camera which they had never previously revealed. The prize winning work, is an emotive and personal portrayal of the artist and his future wife before their marriage in 2009. The confessions captured here remain a secret to each other to this day.
Upon receiving the award he said "It is a huge honour to win this year's Sovereign European Art Prize and to be part of the Barbican exhibition. I am incredibly grateful to Sovereign for their support and to the nominators, the judges and the other artists. The charity is very close to my heart and I believe that making art accessible to people who would not otherwise have the opportunity is a wonderful thing."
All the remaining works in the exhibition are now available for purchase, with the proceeds spilt between the artists and the Sovereign Art Foundation. This offers collectors and members of the public the unique opportunity to buy works by these rising stars of contemporary art. Prices start from the affordable EUR400 to over EUR30,000, and offers will be accepted by sealed bids at the exhibition from now until 20th June. The winning bids will be announced on 21st June.
This year the Foundation will use the proceeds from the exhibition's sealed bid auction to support the Barbican/Guildhall School Creative Learning project involving young patients and their families in hospitals. Each term tutors and students from Guildhall School lead participatory music workshops for young patients and their families in the Children's and teenager's wards in Whipps Cross University Hosptial in Leytonstone and University College Hospital, London.
As well as being able to bid to support this fantastic cause, the public can also vote for their favourite work until the 20th June online at www.SovereignArtFoundation.com or at the exhibition. The artist with the most votes wins the public vote prize of EUR1,000!

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