The Concord Art Prize will launch in London this September, celebrating art inspired by music. Ten finalists have received a £1000 bursary to create their submissions, including work by Anna Kerman, Sam Tahmessabi, Jacob Love, Angela Fung and Olly Fathers. The shortlisted works will be exhibited at 180 Strand this September where the winner will be announced.
Over 600 submissions were received for the inaugural prize, from artists aged 18-72, responding to a selection of songs from Concord Music Publishing’s expansive catalogue.

The panel of judges, including world renowned British artist Mat Collishaw, representatives from the Royal College of Art, Central Saint Martins and Hiscox, alongside Julie Lomax (CEO of a-n The Artists Information Company), Robert Yates of The Observer, and songwriters Mark Ronson and Joan Armatrading, have deliberated and selected the 10 finalists who will exhibit their final piece in London this September, in a show curated by Ali Hillman of Friday Trampoline.

The opening event will host the artists, organisers, press and the judging panel.

The Judges:
Alexander Schady, Central Saint Martins
Ali Hillman, Friday Trampoline
Joan Armatrading, Songwriter
Julie Lomax, Artists Information Company
Mark Ronson, Songwriter/Producer
Mat Collishaw, Artist
Pamela Golden, Royal College of Art
Robert Yates, The Observer
Sara Lord, Concord Music Publishing
Whitney Hintz, Hiscox

The panel has selected 10 incredible finalists, who have each responded to a piece of music from the Concord Music Publishing catalogue:

Becky Hoghton | www.beckyhoghton.com
The self-taught Bristol based ceramist will create a beautiful porcelain work inspired by Pink Floyd’s The Great Gig In The Sky.

Angela Fung | www.fungandbedford.com
The award-winning jeweller and one half of the multi-disciplinary design studio of Fung + Bedford, will create a bespoke architectural origami paper installation based on Steve Reich’s Music For 18 Musicians.

Sam Tahmassebi |@sam_tahmassebi
Inspired by Stravinsky’s The Rite Of Spring, he is planning an original painting on canvas, informed by digital culture.

Olly Fathers | @ollyfathers
Graduate of Wimbledon College of Art, he will respond to Newley & Bricusse’s Pure Imagination with a sculpture. His work explores the relationships between abstract shapes, different materials, and forms.

Jacob Love | www.jacoblove.net
The Goldsmiths’ educator, who has previously had a solo show at the Leslie Lohman Museum in 2013, has chosen Rodgers & Hammerstein’s My Favourite Things. He will create a large-scale video installation.

Olivia Martin Snowsill | @oliviajemima
Will responded to Krept & Konan’s Broski with a mixed media work on canvas.

Nina Miranda | www.ninamiranda.com
Nina is a multi-media artist based in London and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. She is both a musician and a soundscape artist who will respond to Joan Armatrading’s Love & Affection.

Anna Kerman | @anna_ker_
Swedish born abstract artist, who received an MA from University of Arts London, will explore Mark Ronson feat Yebba’s Don’t Leave Me Lonely through painting with acrylic in a fevered and immediate manner.

Deborah Hobson | www.deborahhobsonart.com
Having studied at UAL, she creates politically and socially engaged art works which provoke radical dialogue. She will create a collaged drawing, exploring portraiture in an expanded interpretation relating to Ray Barretto’s A Deeper Shade Of Soul.

Michal Raz | @michalraz
Born in Jerusalem, currently living and working in London, Michal’s work is
underlined by continued research of ethnology, pattern making, ornamentation, abstract art, pop culture and digital aesthetics. She graduated from the Slade School of Fine Art in 2018 and will make a diptych inspired by Lyra’s New Day.

Pamela Golden, Royal College of Art comments, “The submissions showed an extraordinary wealth of visual voices presenting a wide range of possibilities of imagining each of the songs”.

Julie Lomax, CEO of a-n The Artists Information Company reflects, “It has been an honour and a privilege to judge the Concord Art Prize, from listening to the songs, some familiar, others marking key moments in my life, and some new to me, and then looking at all the artists responses, bringing new perspectives from the wild and playful, to formal and abstract. Only Concord Music Publishing could bring together artists in celebration of music as diverse as Steve Reich and Krept and Konan, it promises to be an exciting exhibition and showcase of new talent”.

Sara Lord, SVP International Sync and Project Development at Concord Music Publishing comments, “It’s been a total joy to have seen the submissions flood in over the last few months and to read the stories of how these 10 pieces OF MUSIC from the Concord Music Publishing catalogue have moved people to create beautiful works of art. I found the judging process fascinating to listen to the experts from the art world enjoy such lively debate over what was ‘the best’. We are really excited to see the 10 works finished and think we have the makings of an incredible exhibition exploring music and art’s never-ending relationship”.

Singer Joan Armatrading, whose song Love & Affection features, and was on the judging panel added, “During the judging there were some very interesting works, and it was fascinating to see different people’s interpretation of the same piece of music”.

Curator Ali Hillman concludes, “It is a privilege to benefit from the expert knowledge assembled in this judging panel. Part of the prize’s attraction is the opportunity to have your work assessed by leading academics and contemporary art figures. We are so excited to reveal the findings of our dedicated team and look forward to sharing the winning works”