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Awards for Artists

Kevin Le Gendre (Chair of Composers judging panel) speaks about the recipients of Awards for Artists 2023 who've joined him on stage. Photo credit: Emile Holba
Kevin Le Gendre, Chair of Composers judging panel, and the recipients of Awards for Artists 2023. Photo credit: Emile Holba

Awards for Artists supports individuals at a timely moment in their careers, giving them the freedom to develop their creative ideas and contributing to their personal and professional growth.

On this page

About the awards

Paul Hamlyn Foundation established Awards for Artists in 1994 to give artists a financial award at a timely moment in their careers.

The awards aim to give artists the freedom to develop their creative ideas and to grow both personally and professionally, reflecting the Foundation’s strong belief in the value of artists to society. This unique scheme has benefited 347 artists with awards totalling £10.54 million.

Initially, the awards were made to artists from different art forms each year. The first awards were made in 1994 to composers, followed by choreographers in 1995, visual artists (sculpture & installation) in 1996 and poets in 1997. There has been a consistent focus on visual artists since 1998 and composers since 2007.

The awards are made every year and come with no strings attached – artists are free to use the money in whichever way they decide. Ten awards of £60,000 each are made annually, five to visual artists and five to composers.

Group photograph of Awards for Artists 2023 recipients. Back row L-R: Marcus Macdonald on behalf of Black Obsidian Sound System (B.O.S.S.), Nneka Cummins, Pippa Murphy, Jamie Crewe, Imran Perretta, Helen Cammock. Front L-R: Ain Bailey, Hyelim Kim, Edward George. Not pictured: Francesca Pidgeon (Dilettante), Karine Polwart (part of composing duo with Pippa Murphy), eight other members of Black Obsidian Sound System
Awards for Artists 2023 recipients. Back row L‑R: Marcus Macdonald on behalf of Black Obsidian Sound System (B.O.S.S.), Nneka Cummins, Pippa Murphy, Jamie Crewe, Imran Perretta, Helen Cammock. Front L‑R: Ain Bailey, Hyelim Kim, Edward George. Not pictured: Francesca Pidgeon (Dilettante), Karine Polwart (part of composing duo with Pippa Murphy), eight other members of Black Obsidian Sound System Photo credit: Emile Holba

Principles of the awards

The Awards provide artists creative freedom to address some of the practical limitations or outside pressures they may face, offering years’ financial support which recipients are free to use as they see fit. The awards are not about recognising commercial success and they will therefore only be made to artists who need financial support to continue to practice.

Visual Artists 2023 – award recipients

Composers 2023 – award recipients

Previous recipients

Process, judging and nomination

Find out more about how the Awards for Artists recipients are selected.

How the awards work