The Inches Carr Mentoring Award is designed for mid-career makers whose practice would most benefit from a period of mentoring to encourage transformation and innovation in their practices. From a very strong field of entrants, we must congratulate the four shortlisted makers: Amanda Baron, Ffion Blench, Vicky Higginson and Jo Pudelko. While all are already highly respected within their fields, the selection panel (Robin Blair, Robbie Bushe, Sheila Mitchell, Sarah Rothwell and Katie West) felt their submissions embraced a period of supportive interrogation and playful discovery.
The award is £5000 for a maker, plus an additional £2000 for a mentor whose discipline and/or professional experience would add value to winner. The purpose is to encourage and mentor makers to develop their practice to a higher level, consider innovation and introducing new materials or techniques to their existing practise.
These shortlisted artists will be exhibited in a dedicated showcase at OPEN 2018 at the Royal Scottish Academy, 28 January – 9 March 2018. The winner will be announced during the exhibition and will be invited to develop a new body of work in conjunction with their mentor to be exhibited at the subsequent VAS annual exhibition.