Celebrating the artistic talents of older people Celebrating the artistic talents of older people
26/11/2009
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Created to celebrate and promote the artistic talents of older people, the EAC Over 60s Art Awards offer amateur artists the chance to exhibit their work at the Bankside Gallery in London, next to Tate Modern.
This year the awards have the full support of the journalist and broadcaster Dame Joan Bakewell, who is acting as official Champion for the Awards.
The EAC Over 60s Art Awards have been running for over a decade and with every year have grown in quality and strength, uncovering a wealth of talented artists over the age of 60. Many entrants have come to making art later in life often finding more time for creative pursuits in retirement; others adopt art as a therapeutic activity, which becomes increasingly important to them:
‘I keep painting, and I hope I can go on painting, because it’s the most important thing in my life.’ Nan Leifer, aged 88, winner of the 2008 Peverel Prize for Still Life.
‘I came away from the EAC Awards very inspired and enthused, determined to get my work seen by a wider public.’ Leslie Child, aged 61, winner of the 2008 Winsor & Newton Prize for Watercolour.
101 works have been selected for this exhibition which creates a wealth of interesting stories and touches the hearts of all who participate, both in the competition and who visit the exhibition. The real joy of Art Awards is the unique opportunity it creates for older people to demonstrate their continuing capacity to be purposeful and involved, and to enjoy the collaborative venture of entering a national competition.
The EAC Over 60’s Art Awards Exhibition 2009 at Bankside Gallery, London
SE1 9JH. 2 – 6 December 2009. 11am – 6pm daily. Admission Free.