John Moores Painting Prize 2023

The John Moores Painting Prize brings together the best in contemporary British painting right now.

Supporting artists from all over the UK – whether they’re undiscovered, emerging or established in their careers – the prize provides a platform for artists to inspire, disrupt and challenge the British painting art scene today.

All entries were judged anonymously over a two-stage selection process by our panel of judges. 

A varied group of artists and creatives will make up the jury for the John Moores Painting Prize 2023, National Museums Liverpool has announced.  

Ahead of this year’s Call for Entries which is open from midday 13 February 2023 until midday 24 March 2023, the confirmed jurors are: Alexis Harding, Chila Kumari Singh Burman MBE, Claudette Johnson MBE, The White Pube and Yu Hong.  

The jury is responsible for selecting the First prize winner, who will receive £25,000 and a solo display at the Walker Art Gallery in 2025. A shortlist of four other paintings will also be awarded £2,500. The jurors also decide which paintings will be exhibited in the wider John Moores Painting Prize 2023 exhibition, which will take place at the Walker Art Gallery from 16 September 2023 to 25 February 2024. 

Alongside the first prize and prizes for the shortlist, jurors will also award the Lady Grantchester Prize which offers £5,000, a residency and £2,500 worth of art materials. Any registering artists are eligible to enter for this prize, with applications from artists in their final year of study or within five years of graduation especially encouraged. 

Guidelines for Artists  

Got a question? These ‘frequently asked questions’ below are here to help you through the registration process. We will be updating these questions throughout the competition.  

Entering the competition 

When can I enter John Moores Painting Prize 2023? 

The call for entries period starts at midday Monday 13 February 2023. The deadline to enter (register and pay the entry fee) is midday Friday 24 March 2023.  

How can I enter? 

You can only enter the competition online.  

We cannot accept post entries.  

Please contact the JMPP office if you require additional guidance or support submitting your registration online by emailing jmpaintingprize@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk  

How do I sign up for an account? 

You will have to create a new account by signing up with your email and password.  

What happens after I sign up? 

After registering for an account, you will receive an email with a link. You will need to click on the link to verify your account. Once your account has been verified you will be able to start the application process. You will be able to edit to your entry before submitting until midday Friday 24 March 2023.  

Please make a note of the 4-digit entry number you are given within your profile. As the judging and process is anonymous, this is how we refer to your entry throughout the process.  

Do I need to upload my personal statement? 

No, a personal statement is only required if you are selected for stage 2 judging.  Jurors can request to see your statement during stage 2 judging. e use the statement you submit when compiling the exhibition catalogue.  

When do I pay? 

Your payment will be required at the end of your application using a credit or debit card. Once your payment has been authorised, your entry is now complete. You will then receive a confirmation email.  

Troubleshooting 

When inputting your dimensions, please do not input ‘cm’. This is automatically entered.  
When inputting the price of your painting, please do not input the pound sing (£). This is automatically entered.  

Who can enter? 

Anyone who is aged 18 years or above on 24 March 2023 and lives in the UK or are UK-based can enter the competition. (This includes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. It does not include the Republic of Ireland).  

How much does it cost to enter? 

£30 inclusive of VAT (non-refundable). Payment should be made online by debit/credit card. The entry fee is non-refundable. Please ensure your work is available on the judging dates specified and throughout the exhibition. 

Why is the fee £30? 

The entry fee helps us to finance the John Moores Painting Prize. The competition and exhibition could not go ahead without this contribution. The fees also help to ensure free admission to the exhibition itself. The artists’ entry fee has remained at £30 since 2014, and in setting the fee we benchmark the Prize with other competitions.  

Can I enter using an alternative exhibiting name? 

Yes. Artists can use a pseudonym or exhibiting name, but it must use the same name throughout the registration and competition process. 

What happens after I have registered? 

Once successfully registered, you will receive an email with a link to complete the full submission.  

Can I edit or update my personal details, entry details and image? 

Yes. You will be able to log in into your account to make any edits to your entry by using your registered email and chosen password until midday 24 March 2023.  

Your image  

Please ensure the image you upload is of a good quality, preferably in a well-lit space with a clear background. 

Can my work be a collaboration with another artist, or artists? 

Yes, but please note that an artist or collaborative artists may only submit a maximum of one work in total. All collaborative artists must be living or professionally based in the UK. 

Is there a theme? 

There is no theme, but themes can naturally emerge within the final selection.  

Entry requirements 

What is the entry requirement? 

Your submission must be wholly or partly executed in any painted medium and designed to hang on or be fixed to a wall. 

How many images can I upload? 

You can upload a maximum of two images. One of these must show the complete (whole) painting. An optional detail image of the work may be submitted. 

Do I have to frame my paintings? 

No, paintings do not have to be framed, however you must make it clear on your registration form whether the work is framed or unframed. If you regard the frame as an integral part of the work, and therefore would like it listed as part of the painting’s media, you must say so. 

Am I eligible if my work is video based? 

No, even if your artwork is a film of you making a painting. 

Can I enter diptychs/triptychs as one work? 

Yes, but the overall size must not exceed 3 metres by 3.75 metres. The depth must not exceed 0.5 metres. 

How recent does the work need to be? 

Only work that is dated since 1 January 2021 will be eligible. 

Can my work be a copy of, or closely based on, another artist’s work? 

The work that you submit should be of your own origination and you should hold all moral and intellectual property rights in that work. If, however, your work does recognisably reference the work of another artist (for example if your painting is a copy of a photograph or painting by a known individual or is from a known online or archival source), you must have obtained the necessary copyright permissions and credit lines and paid any fees due. The resolution of any such unresolved issues discovered by the organiser will become the responsibility of the artist, including any fees due. You must state on your Stage 2 entry form if your work is a copy of, or closely based on, another artist’s work and confirm that you have obtained any relevant permissions. If the rights holder has given you a credit line to use, we will need that for use in the catalogue and in exhibition publicity, if you are selected for the exhibition. 

Does my work need to be for sale? 

Yes. All work has to be available for purchase from stage 2 through to the end of the exhibition period. By entering the competition, you are agreeing to this requirement. If selected for the exhibition, your submission will be available for sale, and you will be party to a commercial agreement with NML Trading Ltd (the trading company of National Museums Liverpool) who will exclusively undertake all sales of shortlisted paintings in the exhibition.  

Please note that you will be asked to state the selling price of your work when entering. This price must take the 30% commission that NML takes upon the sale of exhibiting works. 

If you require any guidance around pricing your work, please contact the JMPP office by emailing: jmpaintingprize@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Can I enter more than one work by using different names? 

No. Any artist found to have done this will be deemed in breach of the Prize’s conditions of entry and will have all their entries disqualified. 

Stage 1 

What happens in Stage 1? 

The jury views and discusses all the entries from the digital image submitted. This process is completely anonymous. Jurors are not given the names of the artists or any information explaining the meaning of or intention behind the artworks. They are only provided with the following information: title, size and medium. During the Stage 1 process, the jury shortlists the paintings that are to progress through to Stage 2. 

Can I have feedback if my work is not selected? 

No. We regret that we are unable to provide individual feedback at any stage of the competition. 

How do I know if I’ve made it to Stage 2? 

Artists will be notified by email the week commencing 15 May 2023 if they have been successful to stage 2. We regret we cannot respond to individual enquiries.  

All stage 2 artists will be sent labels to attach to their work ahead of delivering works to their chosen depot.  

Where are the depots? 

There will be depots situated in Belfast, Bristol, Leeds, London, Scotland (Coatbridge) and Liverpool. Successful applicants will receive detailed information around the sending in dates and opening times for each depot, as they may vary according to the particular depot. 

Where can I view the full terms and conditions of entry? 

The full terms and condition of entry can be found here.  

What are the office hours? 

The office is open 10am – 5pm Monday to Friday. If you have a query regarding the registration process that is not covered above, please get in touch with the John Moores office using the email below. We will try to respond to you as soon as possible, but please allow up to 3 working days for a reply. 

How do I contact the John Moores office? 

Email: jmpaintingprize@liverpoolmuseums.org.uk 

website: John Moores Painting Prize | National Museums Liverpool (liverpoolmuseums.org.uk)