Date published: 08 April 2024
Stonewater has announced a new partnership with the Henry Moore Institute, the leading sculpture research centre and gallery. Representatives from the Henry Moore Institute judge Stonewater's annual Blunden Prize.
Now in its third year, the Blunden Prize was launched to find the country’s talented artists, giving them the opportunity to create artwork that is produced and displayed on Stonewater's developments of new homes.
The Henry Moore Institute is part of the Henry Moore Foundation, which was set up by the sculptor Henry Moore to encourage an appreciation of the visual arts, especially sculpture. With many of those entering the Blunden Prize being sculptors, the partnership brings extra excitement to the competition, the closing date for which is the 26 April.
Laurence Sillars, Head of the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds, will join Stonewater colleagues on the judging panel that will ultimately decide on the winner. He said: “It will be a pleasure to be involved in Stonewater's Blunden Prize and I’m very much looking forward to seeing the high calibre of entries from artists around the country.
“The Henry Moore Institute is pleased to be working in partnership with Stonewater who recognise the importance of art and are supporting the development of new work for the public to enjoy for years to come.”
The new partnership reflects both organisation’s dedication to public art and providing artists with opportunities to progress their artforms and careers.
Stonewater has been commissioning artists to produce pieces of sculpture and multi-media art pieces on its affordable housing sites for over a decade, involving local community groups and schools in the process and increasing ownership and engagement within its communities.
As part of the new partnership, this year’s final judging will take place at the Henry Moore Studios & Gardens in Hertfordshire, with the final event and winner’s announcement being hosted by the Henry Moore Institute itself.
Jonathan Layzell, Chief Growth and Development Officer at Stonewater, said: “The Blunden Prize has been hugely successful over the last two years, and we’re incredibly pleased to be able to make it an annual event with the support of this formal partnership with such a well-regarded art institution. Laurence and I, along with the other judges, are excited to see the ideas that this year’s entries bring.”
On the 9 April, Stonewater will host a webinar to provide more in-depth information about this year’s Blunden Prize, what the judges will be looking for as well as insight from last year’s winner, Patrick Walls.