HIV charity National AIDS Trust’s (NAT) is inviting aspiring artists and designers to enter the inaugural Be Red Ribbon Inspired artwork competition, which runs until Monday, August 31, 2020 and is judged by renowned sculptor Sir Antony Gormley and writer/curator Sandy Nairne CBE, who was a director of the National Portrait Gallery.
The competition offers a unique opportunity to create an inspiring piece of artwork incorporating the red ribbon, the international symbol of HIV awareness and support, while gaining valuable exposure and recognition.
The winning artwork, which will feature on NAT’s exclusive World AIDS Day 2020 tote bag, will also be commissioned by Paintings in Hospitals, the charity that uses visual art to inspire better health and wellbeing for patients and carers, and the winner will receive a prize of £500.
Deborah Gold, Chief Executive of NAT, said: ‘The red ribbon is the international symbol of HIV and AIDS and we are excited to see how people interpret this into artwork for our exciting new competition.
‘We’re absolutely thrilled Sandy Nairne and Sir Antony Gormley are joining us to judge the entries with their wide-ranging expertise. We hope this competition will help raise awareness of the significant advances made in HIV treatment and prevention in recent years. We celebrate living and thriving with HIV and art is an important way of people expressing themselves.’
Sir Antony Gormley said: ‘I’ll be very interested to find a new red ribbon design that will be able to do the important job of raising awareness of HIV and remembering those we have sadly lost.’
Sandy Nairne CBE added: ‘I am delighted to support the NAT’s 2020 artwork competition. It will help promote the important work the charity does while offering wider recognition for artists and designers. I look forward to seeing how people are inspired by the iconic red ribbon.’
Artwork can be submitted in any format that can be displayed in a still image. Submissions that uniquely incorporate the red ribbon and represent an aspect of NAT’s work are encouraged.
Alongside the top prize from Paintings in Hospitals, runners-up prizes have been provided by Pop Up Paintings and Surface View.
Sandra Bruce-Gordon, Director of Paintings in Hospitals, said: ‘Paintings in Hospitals is thrilled to support the NAT’s artwork competition for emerging artists. Like the red ribbon, art has the power to communicate beyond words. Art can uplift, inform, and empower people.
‘We will be delighted to acquire the competition’s winning artwork for the Paintings in Hospitals collection, which will see the artwork go on public display in care settings across the country, amplifying HIV awareness and support to patients and service users throughout the UK.’
Entries must be made before Monday, August 31, 2020. For more info and instructions on how to enter, CLICK HERE or email art@nat.org.uk.