HERALBONY has established the international art award “HERALBONY Art Prize,” targeting works by artists with disabilities, and has commenced the call for submissions.
HERALBONY, with the mission “Unleash the Uniqueness,” is a welfare experiment company aiming to create a new culture rooted in welfare. They have entered into art licensing agreements with primarily intellectually disabled artists worldwide, leveraging over 2000 art data points to transform artworks into products for their art lifestyle brand, “HERALBONY.”
The award is established as an artistic prize contributing to the budding careers of talented artists. It aims to recognize the talent of individual artists, rather than focusing on disabilities, and provides an opportunity for their works to reach a wide audience, including viewers, curators, collectors, and critics. The intention is to pave the way for further success by offering a platform for artists to convey their creations. There are no nationality or age restrictions for applicants, and submissions from disabled artists worldwide are accepted until March 15th.
The panel of judges includes Hiroki Kurosawa, Chief Curator of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Katsuhiko Hibino, President of Tokyo University of the Arts, Emna Moriguchi, Director of LVMH Métiers d’Art Japan, and Christian Berst, founder of the “Galerie Christian Berst” in Paris. They will evaluate submissions from a diverse range of perspectives, both nationally and internationally, aiming to discover emerging talents in the art world.
The Grand Prize winner will receive a cash prize of 3 million yen, and multiple corporate awards from sponsoring companies are also set to be selected. In August, an exhibition and events, including an award ceremony, will be held featuring the works of the awardees and finalists.
The “HERALBONY Art Prize” envisions a future imbued with the aura of a societal movement. Its essence is rooted in the aspiration, much like the “Arts & Crafts Movement” that emerged in the 1880s in the UK, to seek harmony between life and art. Despite receiving support from a diverse range of corporations and public institutions, this award challenges the traditional, able-bodied-centric capitalist economy, aiming to propose a new concept of “normalcy.” The creativity of the diverse artists gathering from around the world paints a vivid picture, much like enhancing the landscapes of the world and our hearts in a joyful and vibrant manner. Unleash the uniqueness.
Organizer’s Comment (HERALBONY co-presidents: Takaya Matsuda and Fumito Matsuda)
HERALBONY Art Prize
Application period
January 31 (Wednesday) – March 15 (Friday), 2024
Eligibility
01. Artists with disabilities* who wish to work in Japan or abroad are eligible to apply.
*Holders of a disability certificate.
Applicants who pass the first screening will be asked to submit a copy of their ID as identification.
02. The artist himself/herself or his/her organization* can apply for the contest.
*The applicant must fall under one of the following categories.
(1) The artist himself/herself (2) A person with parental authority (if the artist is a minor) (3) A relative/guardian (4) Guardian (5) Welfare facility or other organization to which the artist belongs
03. Applicants may be of any nationality, age, gender, and whether they are professionals or amateurs.
Entry Rules
01. The copyright and ownership of the submitted work belongs to the applicant (artist).
Works that include characters, brands, names, etc., the copyright or trademark rights of which belong to someone other than the artist, are not eligible.
02. Two-dimensional works (paintings, prints, digital art, photographs, mixed media, etc.)
Sculptures, three-dimensional works, and video works are not eligible.
Installation works can be displayed on the wall and must be less than 200cm in length when exhibited.
03. Works that have not won prizes or been commercialized in other competitions in the past.
Works that have not won prizes or been commercialized in other public competitions in the past.
04. If the work passes the preliminary screening, it must be available for loan from April to December 2024.
05. Size: Maximum size: 120, maximum length: 200 cm or less
*If the work is framed, the size includes the frame.
06. Weight: 15 kg or less
*When framed, the weight includes the frame.
07. Theme：Any theme (regardless of material or genre)
Sponsor: HERALBONY Co., Ltd.
Sponsors
GOLD SPONSOR / Tokyo Tatemono Co.
SILVER SPONSOR / Nomura Co.
BRONZE SPONSOR / Nishimura & Asahi
SPECIAL PARTNER / Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton Japan Ltd.
MEDIA PARTNER / Forbes JAPAN
WEB Production PARTNER / ASA Corporation
