Mourant launch the 2009 Guernsey art competition

Calling all Guernsey artists and art lovers. Here’s your chance to win £1,000 and see your work exhibited in front of over 70,000 people.

The annual Mourant Prize ’09 – Artist of the Year, seen as a premier art competition and permanent fixture on the Guernsey art calendar, is officially open for entries.

Law firm Mourant is once again offering a top prize of £1,000 and a chance for the 12 finalists to showcase their work at Guernsey Airport over the Christmas period. More than 70,000 tourists and islanders will pass through the airport where they will have the opportunity to choose the overall winner by voting for their favourite piece.

Last year saw more than 300 works of art submitted and the winning work was a nostalgic piece by art teacher Rob Sweeney, titled 38 Fountain Street; a painting of the Gabriel’s shop before the store closed in December 2007.

Darren Bacon, head of Mourant’s Guernsey law practice, said: "Rob’s winning work last year truly captured a slice of Guernsey history. For the past three years the Mourant Art Prize has celebrated our local culture, history, traditions and the wonderful scenery we have in Guernsey, and we hope this continues. We are proud to be involved in an event that encapsulates the essence of our community and provides an arena for islanders to showcase their creative genius."

Entrants are invited to submit a maximum of one piece of art by the closing date of Wednesday 25 November 2009. Click here to download the entry form.

Entries can be in any medium but must be 2D, mountable and no larger than A1. A select judging panel of local art lovers, experts and artists will then choose the final 12. The judges expect to see a diverse range of art and entries in all media from photography to watercolour, drawing, oil paintings and more.

Terms and conditions

An artist/photographer may enter one piece only. There is no time limit on when this piece was produced.
Entries must be original artwork - no prints or artist’s proofs will be accepted.
All pieces should be mountable, 2D, and a maximum size of A1 (84cm x 59.4cm or 33in x 23in).
Weight and materials; working with the management of Guernsey Airport, Mourant will use discretion in selecting exhibition pieces that comply with health and safety regulations of the Airport.
A piece that has previously been entered into a competition will only be accepted if it has not won a prize.
Artists must not re-enter a piece that has previously been entered into the any of the Mourant Prize competitions.
Entries must be presented along with a completed entry form between 23 November and 25 November 2009. Entries will be accepted at the offices of LR&D, Cranwell House (behind Melody Press), La Route de Picquerel, L’Islet, St Sampson’s GY1 4SD, between 9.00am – 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Finalists will be notified by 30 November. Unless contacted otherwise, work can be collected from the LR&D offices on 30 November.
Any pieces not collected by the end of December 2009 will be given to charity for resale.
The decision of the judging panel is final and no further correspondence shall be entered into.
Mourant reserves the right to exercise the option to purchase an entered piece, unless the artist/photographer has specifically deemed it not for sale, as indicated on their entry form. Alternatively, Mourant reserves the right to take a copy of the artwork for its records. This process shall be conducted after the judging of the entries, independent of this competition.
Mourant may use an impression of all entered pieces in its promotional activities. All finalists agree for their art work to be displayed.