IAAC International Awards for Art Criticism

The Sixth Edition of the International Awards for Art Criticism (IAAC 6) 2019 is open to candidates from anywhere in the world writing in Chinese or English about any contemporary art exhibition held between 15 September 2018 and 15 September 2019. Candidates are invited to write a review of 1,500 words or 2,500 Chinese characters on any exhibition of contemporary art.

The awards are open to all, there is no age limit and we welcome entries from individuals representing a wide range of backgrounds from anywhere in the world, writing in Chinese or English.

Entrants are required to submit a piece of critical writing about a contemporary art exhibition held anywhere in the world, between 15 September 2018 and 15 September 2019. The start and end dates of the exhibition may fall outside these dates, but the exhibition must have been open to the public at some stage during this period.

The First Prize will consist of a cash award of 10,000 Euros or the RMB equivalent of this amount (currently, around 80,000 RMB) and a fully funded short programme of visits and meetings in Shanghai or London. Each of the three Second Prizes will be awarded a cash prize of 3,500 Euros or the RMB equivalent of this amount (currently, around 30,000 RMB). The level of the Awards is pegged to a fixed amount in Euro, but international Award winners may choose to be paid either in Euro or in RMB at the official exchange rate on the day that the payment is affected.

The Organising Committee of the International Awards for Art Criticism aims to support independent critical coverage of contemporary art, away from the immediate pressures of the market, media and private patronage. The Awards are to stimulate good writing, critical thinking and dialogue and research in China, the UK and wider afield.