Cultural institutions in Aarhus join forces to stimulate artistic growth in the city.

The Aarhus Art Prize supports talented young artists who have made a distinctive contribution to artistic life in the city. It is intended to attract and maintain a pool of artistic talent, and to strengthen the position of Aarhus as a dynamic, cultural city.
Since its inception in 2018, the Aarhus Art Prize has been funded by Kunsthal Aarhus, ARoS and Godsbanen. In 2023, they were joined by Jyllands-Posten and Aarhus Billedkunstcenter, and the award has been expanded so that it now consists of two prizes.

The first is Talentprisen. This will be awarded yearly to a student graduating from the Jutland Art Academy to an individual who has produced work of particular distinction. It will be presented at the annual graduation exhibition and consists of a prize of 30’000 DKK, along with an invitation to hold a public talk at Kunsthal Aarhus.

The second is Soloprisen. This will be given to a former graduate of a Danish art academy (or an equivalent academy) who, within the five years since their graduation, has produced novel work which has left a special mark on Aarhus. In addition to a prize of 30’000 DKK, the award will also provide the artist with an opportunity to work towards an exhibition near the new home of Jyllands-Posten, in Aarhus Sydhavnskvarter.

The recipients of the awards are chosen by a panel, which consists of Diana Baldon (Artistic Director, Kunsthal Aarhus), Kristine Højmose (Head of Aarhus Billedkunstcenter), Pernille Taagaard Dinesen (Department Head of Public Engagement, ARoS), Signe Cecilie Nørgaard Jochumsen (Head of Exhibitions, Politikens Forhal), Marianne Grymer Bargeman (Director, Godsbanen), and Karin Salling (Deputy Chairman, Salling Fondene). Each year, an external judge is also invited. In 2023, this was Maria Kjær Themsen, who is a freelance curator and a critic for Information.

More information on Solo-prisen here!

Statements:

Godsbanen - Marianne Grymer Bargeman, director, Godsbanen:
“It is important for Godsbanen to help shape the city’s cultural development. This project focuses on the interaction between the milieu and institutions, and helps to strengthen artistic development, and with it, the city.”

Kunsthal Aarhus - Iben Mosbæk, director Kunsthal Aarhus:
“It is a great pleasure for Kunsthal Aarhus to collaborate with institutions and companies to support and improve visibility of the city’s artistic milieu. The city is rich in vision, creativity and talent, and it is important to mark and celebrate that!”

ARoS – Rebecca Matthews, director ARoS Art Museum:
“It is crucial for ARoS to keep up with the young contemporary art scene and with a collaboration like this the synergy is clear not only by virtue of the project’s strong partnerships across the city’s art and cultural institutions, but in particular by developing collaborations with practicing artists.”

Aarhus Billedkunstcenter - Kirstine Schiess Højmose, Head of Aarhus Billedkunstcenter:
“For Aarhus Billedkunstcenter it is absolutely essential to support younger visual artists, and to emphasize their important role in the development of Aarhus’s artistic milieu. We are happy with the broad support for the initiative from institutions, companies, and foundations.”

Jyllands-Posten – Signe Cecilie Nørgaard Jochumsen, Head of Exhibitions, JP/Politikens Hus:
“It is a great pleasure to be able to contribute to contemporary art in Aarhus, and I hope that an initiative such as 'Aarhus Art Prize' can both contribute to the development of the individual award recipients, and to art in the city in general.”

More information and press, contact:
- Signe Cecilie Jochumsen signe.jochumsen@jppol.dk
- Iben Mosbæk im@kunsthal.dk

Read more about the award ceremony, jury statements, and the winners of the Aarhus Art Prize 2023 here.