THE Turner Prize 2021 exhibition showcasing the work of the five nominees for this year’s award opens at Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry today.
The winner of Turner Prize 2021 will be announced on 1 December 2021 at a ceremony at Coventry Cathedral and will be awarded £25,000 with £10,000 given to each of the others shortlisted.
For the first time, a Turner Prize jury has selected a shortlist consisting entirely of artist collectives and artist-run projects.
All the nominees work closely and continuously with communities across the breadth of the UK to inspire social change through art, including Array Collective, Black Obsidian Sound System, Cooking Sections, Gentle/Radical and Project Art Works.
The collaborative practices selected for this year’s shortlist also reflect the solidarity and community demonstrated in response to the pandemic.
Francis Nielsen, Cultural & Creative Director of Culture Coventry, said: “Reflecting a national moment of togetherness, empathy and collectivism has been a key ambition in the development and realisation of the Turner Prize 2021.
“The artists and curatorial team have produced a truly exceptional exhibition and we are incredibly excited to welcome visitors to the Herbert to see it as part of UK City of Culture 2021.”
Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director of Coventry UK City of Culture 2021, said: “It’s an honour to welcome this incredible range of artistic collectives to Coventry as part of our year of culture.
“This range of works is a testament to our vision for Coventry 2021, creating joyful artistic projects with a strong social conscience.
“It ties in with our belief that you can affect social change through art/culture, and this is more important now than ever before.
“The voices of our communities are at the centre of the year of culture co-creating with local global artists and will continue to be so throughout the rest of our tenure.”
