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| Swedbank Art Award Goes to Miks Mitrēvics Jana Kukaine, Art Critic | |
| In 2008 the international Swedbank Art Award was awarded to Miks Mitrevics, overtaking the other four competitors from Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden and Russia. It is pleasing to know that this is not the first time that an artist from Latvia has earned the favour of the Swedbank art jury, as in 2004 the winner was Gints Gabrans. Sirje Helme, the director of KUMU Art Museum, explains the competition procedure and the significance of the award. | |
 Miks Mitrēvics receiving the Swedbank Art Award at the opening of the exhibition at KUMU. Publicity photo | |
| Jana Kukaine: The first time the Swedbank Art Award was held was in 2000, and only Estonian artists were able to participate. Then in 2003 Latvia and Lithuania were invited, but now also Scandinavia and Russia can apply. What has changed in the setup of the award? Sirje Helme: Yes, it's true, there have been a lot of changes on the organisational side of the award exhibition. In previous years, the local jury handed in the artists' portfolios to an international jury. Then, after the decision was made, it was announced to the press, but the winner started to prepare his or her travelling exhibition in the three Baltic countries. The award money then was 5000 Euros, plus the opportunity to hold a one-man show. Now the procedure has changed: the nominees from all countries come together in an exhibition at one of the candidate countries, after they have been chosen by their local jury. This year it is in Estonia - the works are being exhibited at KUMU Art Museum, Tallinn, until 15th February 2009. The jury visits the exhibition before the official opening; has a look at the works presented and follows on with a decision, depending on the exhibition and the artists' portfolios. The winner is announced at the opening ceremony. Since all the candidates are gathered in one exhibition, it serves as an introduction to the newest currents in the region's art life. There are two reasons why Swedbank and the KUMU Art Museum decided to broaden the circle of candidates. Firstly, the more candidates are invited, the more productive the competition, which ensures better quality. Secondly, the more countries are involved, the more international recognition there will be for this award. The expansion also follows the expansion of Swedbank into different countries. J. K.: Who is on the jury? S.H.: The jury consists of international specialists, curators, museum directors etc. This year the jury was as follows: Iris Müller-Westermann (Moderna Museet, Sweden), Maaretta Jaukkuri (Kunstnernes Hus, Norway), Norbert Weber (freelance curator, Ger-many), Jarosław Suchan (Muzeum Sztuki, Poland) and Sirje Helme (KUMU Art Museum, Estonia). J. K.: What are the criteria to assign the award? S.H.: The criteria for nomination are the fact that the artist has been active and successful during the previous year and showed quality in his or her creative outcome. It is always rated highly that the artist has a fresh and innovative vision, that she/he presents new solutions. | |
 Miks Mitrēvics. Collection of Persons. View of part of the exposition. 2008 | |
| J. K.: How can artists apply? S.H.: The artists themselves cannot apply for the contest. The local jury in each country decides which artist to nominate for the award. This procedure ensures that the candidates from each country are the best ones to present the highest quality of contemporary art in the region. J. K.: Has the amount of the prize money changed? S.H.: Yes, the prize money doubled this year from 5000 Euros to 10 000 Euros, which is already a considerable sum in comparison with other art awards of such kind. J. K.: What are the other benefits of competing? S.H.: The Swedbank Art Award (formerly Hansabank Award) is already well established in the Baltic region. Now the aim of expansion is to make the award itself more prestigious on a much larger scale. The award has had a good history; all the artists nominated during the previous years were very strong and internationally recognized. A more material benefit is that all the nominated artists get full support for the completion of their art project for the competition. As the jury is highly respected on an international scale and work for different art institutions, the artists have the chance to introduce themselves to the international art scene, to make new contacts. J.K.: Will there be an award next year too, despite the economical crisis? S. H.: In January all the correspondents from each country will come together in Tallinn to discuss our plans for the coming year, and then it will be decided. More information about the award and the artists: www.swedbank.ee/artaward | |
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