The Threadneedle Art Prize

David Rayson co-selected The Threadneedle Art Prize 2010. The exhibition was held at Mall Galleries, London, and featured an accompanying catalogue. As this was the exhibition’s 3rd year, Rayson worked directly with the gallery Director in redefining the entire event, from the initial stages of rethinking the Call for Entries, through the selection process, to the final show and related events. The open submission attracted 2170 works, which were viewed and selected by the panel including Xavier Bray (Assistant Curator National Gallery) and Michael Sandle (Royal Academy). The large number of entries was exploited as an opportunity to survey current positions and debates around painting and sculpture. In the run up to the exhibition, Rayson visited studios and Art Colleges across the UK, viewing works and conducting interviews on a broad range of studio practices. Throughout the process, many unknown artists were showcased alongside new works by established artists. Selected Events at Mall Galleries: • A Critics View with guest speakers Matthew Collings (Art Critic), Bettany Hughes (Classical Historian), Jeremy Paxman and Jon Snow (TV Broadcasters). • Who Gets The Money? Arts Funding in Crisis, with guest speakers Ekow Eshun (Director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts), Clare O’Brien (Director of Development and Marketing at the Wallace Collection) and Brian Sewell (Art Critic). Press: London Evening Standard (8/4/10), Modern Painters (1/4/10), The Times (14/4/10), Telegraph (20/7/10), The Independent (27/8/10), and The Guardian (16/9/10) Participation in related lectures and panels: • Jerwood Contemporary Painters, The Jerwood Gallery, London, Panel Discussion (2010) • The Studio: Romance and Mythology of the Ideas Chamber in the Post Studio era The Royal College of Art, London, (Public Lecture 2010) • Clouds, Fields, The Backs of Houses, Horoscopes, and Photo’s of Celebrities Getting in and out of Cars,The Burren College of Art, Ireland, (Guest Lecture 2010)