A new transatlantic partnership has established the largest contemporary art prize in the United Kingdom, offering five artists £200,000 each over the next decade. The collaboration between London’s Serpentine Gallery and New York's Flag Art Foundation aims to provide substantial support and international exposure for emerging artists.
The Serpentine x Flag Art Foundation Prize will be awarded every two years, beginning with the first selection in 2026. This initiative represents a significant shift in the landscape of UK art awards, with a prize fund that far exceeds existing prestigious awards like the Turner Prize.
Key Takeaways
- A new award, the Serpentine x Flag Art Foundation Prize, has been created, offering £200,000 to each winner.
- It is now the largest contemporary art prize in the United Kingdom.
- Five international artists with less than ten years of professional experience will be selected over a decade.
- Winners will exhibit their work at both the Serpentine in London and the Flag Art Foundation in New York.
- The first artist will be chosen in 2026, with exhibitions scheduled for 2027 and 2028.
A Transatlantic Alliance for the Arts
The Serpentine Gallery in London and The Flag Art Foundation in New York have announced a major collaboration set to run for the next ten years. The partnership introduces a biennial prize designed to identify and support exceptional international artists at a crucial stage in their careers.
The first recipient of the Serpentine x Flag Art Foundation Prize will be selected in 2026. This artist will then develop a new body of work for a solo exhibition at the Serpentine in the autumn of 2027. Following its debut in London, the exhibition will travel to The Flag Art Foundation's space in Manhattan for a spring 2028 presentation.
In a statement, Serpentine's Chief Executive, Bettina Korek, highlighted the goals of the partnership.
“This partnership deepens our shared mission to forge new connections between artists and audiences while nurturing transatlantic dialogue. The alliance provides global artists with the space and support to expand their practice, inspired by Zaha Hadid’s enduring spirit of experimentation.”
The reference to Zaha Hadid honors the late architect who designed the first Serpentine Gallery pavilion in 2000, establishing a legacy of innovation that the prize aims to continue.
Defining a New Scale of Support
The financial scale of the new prize places it in a category of its own within the UK. The £200,000 award is intended to provide artists with significant resources to develop ambitious new projects without the financial constraints that often limit creative work.
Prize Money Comparison
The new Serpentine x Flag Art Foundation Prize dramatically raises the bar for arts funding in the UK. Here’s how it compares to other major awards:
- Serpentine x Flag Art Foundation Prize: £200,000
- Artes Mundi Prize: £40,000
- Turner Prize: £25,000 for the winner (£10,000 for other shortlisted artists)
This substantial sum is nearly eight times the amount awarded to the winner of the prestigious Turner Prize. By offering this level of support, the organizers intend to make a transformative impact on the careers of the five selected artists over the coming decade.
Eligibility and Selection Process
The prize is open to artists from anywhere in the world, regardless of age. The primary criterion is that applicants must have been exhibiting their work professionally for less than ten years. This focus positions the award as a vital platform for artists who have established a practice but have not yet achieved widespread international recognition.
A rotating jury will be responsible for selecting the winners. According to the announcement, this panel will consist of esteemed curators, art historians, and fellow artists. The composition of the first jury is expected to be announced at a later date, ensuring a dynamic and expert-led selection process for each cycle of the award.
This structure is designed to bring fresh perspectives to each selection, reflecting the evolving nature of the contemporary art world.
The Institutions Behind the Prize
The Serpentine Gallery, located in London's Kensington Gardens, has been a leading force in contemporary art since its opening in 1970. It is known for its free admission policy and its celebrated annual architectural Pavilion program.
The Flag Art Foundation is a non-profit exhibition space in New York founded in 2008 by art collector Glenn Fuhrman and his wife, Amanda. Fuhrman, a co-founder of the private investment firm MSD Capital and a trustee at the Museum of Modern Art, has established Flag as a key venue for contemporary art. The foundation also co-sponsors the Suzanne Deal Booth and Flag Art Foundation Prize, another significant $200,000 award for artists.
A Global Stage for Emerging Talent
One of the most valuable aspects of the prize is the dual-exhibition opportunity. By showing their work in both London and New York, two of the world's most important art capitals, the winning artists will gain exposure to a broad international audience of curators, collectors, critics, and the public.
This transatlantic platform is a core component of the prize, intended to foster dialogue and build connections between different art communities. For an artist with less than a decade of experience, securing solo exhibitions at two respected institutions is a career-defining achievement.
The ten-year commitment from both the Serpentine and The Flag Art Foundation ensures a sustained impact. Over the decade, the prize will create a new cohort of globally recognized artists, each having benefited from the financial support and institutional backing to realize a major project and present it on an international stage.