This prize fund is distributed to artists recognized for the artistic achievement in various disciplines and includes 8 awards for works in any medium, 4 awards for sculptural works, 2 awards for painting, 2 awards for photography (1 emerging), 1 award for a senior artist, 1 award for portraiture and 1 award for architecture.
Two of the major prizes include the RCSI Art Award in association with the Irish Times, an award of €15,000 (€5,000 prize and €10,000 commission) and the Hennessey Craig Scholarship for €10,000 awarded to a painter under the age of 35.
RCSI ART AWARD IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE IRISH TIMES
The 187th Annual Exhibition saw the second year of the RHA’s partnership with RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons Ireland) and the RCSI Art Award, which is awarded during the RHA Annual Exhibition in recognition of the connection between art and healing.
A sculpture, by Remco de Fouw ARHA, inspired by the atlas and axis vertebrae of the spine was unveiled as the inaugural commission for the RCSI Art Award. The two-piece work, a sculpture diptych, is made from Spanish alabaster and glass and is on display in the York Street concourse area of RCSI, 123 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2. The sculpture was unveiled in May by Professor John Hyland, President, RCSI in the presence of Mick O’Dea, PRHA.
The 2017 recipient of the RCSI Art Award was Miranda Blennerhassett for her installation piece RHA. The work by Miranda Blennerhassett that will be commissioned as part of this prize will join de Fouw’s piece as part of RCSI’s collection on campus aiming to inspire future healthcare leaders.
THE HENNESSEY CRAIG SCHOLARSHIP
The Hennessey Craig Scholarship of €10,000 is awarded annually to a painter under the age of 35 exhibiting in the open submission section of the Academy’s Annual Exhibition. The painter must have studied at a recognised art college in Ireland and the award is to ena- ble the painter to pursue a course of further self-determined study in Ireland or abroad.
The prize is in memory of Patrick Hennessey RHA and H. Robertson Craig RHA and was established when H. Robertson Craig left a legacy gift to the RHA in his will.
Previous recipients include:
Vera Klute, David Hedderman, Alan Freney, Mollie Dohuit, Neil Carroll, Stephanie Rowe, Francis Matthews, Hugh Delap, Sinéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Gabhann Dunne, Ann Quinn, Tim Millen, Comhghall Casey, Gillian Lawlor, Keith Wilson, Shane Berkery, Molly Judd and Daniel Nelis.
Image: Daniel Nelis, Dark Turned Fields, Oil on panel, 30 x 42 cm, Image courtesy of the artist.
