Tate is delighted to announce that the Turner Prize will be shown at Tate Liverpool in 2007 in the run up to its year of celebrations as European Capital of Culture in 2008. In its place next autumn, Tate Britain will present an exhibition which celebrates the history of the Turner Prize over the last twenty-three years
It is the first time the Turner Prize has been held outside London since it began in 1984. The exhibition of four shortlisted artists will take place at the Albert Dock galleries from 19 October 2007 – 13 January 2008. 2007 is a special year for Liverpool as it celebrates the 800th anniversary of its charter, signed by King John. The exhibition will be an exciting curtain-raiser for Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008 which is set to be an exceptional year as the city celebrates its European Capital of Culture status with an outstanding programme of arts events to be announced later in the year.
The jury for the 2007 Turner Prize is Dr Fiona Bradley, Director of the Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh; Michael Bracewell, writer and critic; Thelma Golden, Director and Chief Curator at the Studio Museum, Harlem and Miranda Sawyer, freelance broadcaster and writer. Christoph Grunenberg, Director of Tate Liverpool, will be chairing the 2007 Turner Prize jury.
Speaking of the 2007 Turner Prize Christoph Grunenberg said:
The Turner Prize is an integral part of Tate, and by presenting the Turner Prize in Liverpool in 2007 Tate is showing its commitment and support for Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008. I am proud to be chairing a jury of national and international calibre that will shortlist four unique and stimulating British artists. These artists will reflect the very best contemporary art practice to come out of the UK. A fantastic curtain-raiser for 2008, we believe the Turner Prize will bring a welcome focus to the city and generate thought-provoking discussion around contemporary art.
The shortlisted artists will be announced on 8 May 2007 and the winner will be announced on 3 December 2007. The exhibition is supported by Arts Council England, the Liverpool Culture Company and Northwest Regional Development Agency. Turner Prize 2007 will be awarded to a British artist under fifty for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of his or her work in the twelve months preceding 1 May 2007 (The term British applies to all artists working in the United Kingdom and to British-born artists who may be working abroad). The Prize was established in 1984 by the Patrons of New Art and is intended to promote public discussion of new developments in contemporary British art.
Tate Britain will explore the history of the Turner Prize with an exhibition of key works by the winning artists and the broader context of each year’s shortlist. Since the mid 1980s the visual arts scene in Britain has changed beyond recognition and as an annual event throughout this period the Turner Prize has both documented and played a role in this change. Winning artists have included Richard Deacon, Lucian Freud, Damien Hirst, Howard Hodgkin, Steve McQueen, Malcolm Morley, Gillian Wearing and Rachel Whiteread. This exhibition, from 2 October 2007 – 6 January 2008 presents a chronological selection of key works shown over the twenty-three years, allowing a unique opportunity to reflect upon some of the significant moments in the recent history of British art and the reception of the prize by the press, by artists, and by the public.
The Turner Prize will return to Tate Britain in 2008.
Information and features on the Turner Prize and its history can be found at Tate Online www.tate.org.uk.