Northumbria University student shortlisted for Gillian Dickinson North East Young Sculptor Award 2020

Jade Booth-Malone, a third-year Fine Art student from Northumbria University, is amongst the eleven shortlisted artists who will compete for the Gillian Dickinson North East Young Sculptor (GDNEYS) Award 2020.

Other artists shortlisted include students and graduates from Newcastle University, Teesside University, Leeds Art University and University of Sunderland.

The GDNEYS Award encourages young artists in the North East to submit a proposal for a new installation at Cheeseburn Sculpture, a unique art exhibition space based at Cheeseburn Grange in Northumberland.

The shortlisted artists will be given advice and support, as well as funding of £300, to develop their proposal.

Matthew Jarrat, Curator and Artist Mentor at Cheeseburn, said: “We will now provide support and mentoring for our shortlisted artists over the next three months, helping them to develop their ideas for installations at Cheeseburn.

“It is the first time these artists have had a budget to work with and an outdoor site to consider and we’re happy to be able to support young artists to develop their creative skills to meet the challenges of making sculpture in the environment."

The proposals will be judged by representatives from Cheeseburn and the Gillian Dickinson Trust, as well as independent artists and members of the public, before a winner is selected. The winner will receive £6,500 to develop their installation, which will be displayed in 2021.

Commenting on being short-listed, Jade Booth-Malone said: “I am really excited to be shortlisted for this fantastic opportunity. I applied because I recognised it as a chance to push myself and think about my work differently. It has made me consider scale, materials and the duration of artworks. 

“As a professional experience, it has made me think about audience, interaction and engagement with the wider public. Visiting Cheeseburn has been inspiring and I am considering site-specific locations. I am proud to be considered and am now busy working on my ideas and sketchbook development. It is a great challenge and I look forward to seeing how my ideas make an impact!”

Dr Judy Thomas, Senior Lecturer of Fine Art, added: “We are delighted Jade has been shortlisted for this wonderful opportunity. The Gillian Dickinson North East Young Sculptor of the Year holds incredible prestige; no matter whether she is selected as the finalist, the shortlist position demonstrates the excellent quality of ideas and practice Jade has applied across her time as an undergraduate in the Fine Art department; being short-listed will help Jade take important first steps to establish her career as an artist. This is a great achievement and Jade must feel very proud!”

The winner of last year’s North East Young Sculptor Award was Bethan Williams, a 21-year old graduate of Northumbria University’s Fine Art programme.

Bethan’s interactive exhibition, Beatrix and Her Friends on Tour, consists of a variety of brightly painted wheeled boxes which will be placed around Cheeseburn sculpture gardens. The location of each box will change for each open weekend of 2020, encouraging visitors to engage in a scavenger hunt to find and interact with the installation.

As well as interacting with last year’s winner, visitors will be able to view the latest proposals, and vote for their favourite, from 23 - 25 May and 30 – 31 May.

Find out more about Cheeseburn Sculpture here.