AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

23rd Annual Chelsea International Fine Art Competition

CHELSEA, NY.-Since opening in 1984, Agora Gallery has established itself as a hub for innovative and talented emerging and mid career artists from around the world. Keeping with its tradition of discovering and nurturing artists new to the alluring but highly competitive New York art scene, Agora Gallery will hold its 23rd annual Chelsea International Fine Art Competition, starting February 7, 2008. Not only will selected artists gain exposure by exhibiting their work in the famed Chelsea art community, the competition will be juried by an influential voice in the art world, Manon Slome, Chief Curator of the Chelsea Art Museum .

On April 15th 2008 the names of the winning artists will be announced. Selected artists will be eligible to receive awards valued at $38,000, including several cash prizes, internet promotion on the website www.Art-Mine.com and a one-page review with two color images in ARTisSpectrum magazine. In addition, Manon Slome, the internationally renowned curator and art consultant, will select the work of 15-20 artists to participate in a group exhibition at Agora Gallery.

Seizing the opportunity to be seen on the Chelsea art scene is one that previous Chelsea International Fine Art Competition winner Nathan Pendlebury could not resist. After being one of last year’s selected artists, the Photographer, who resides in the United Kingdom , elected to be represented by Agora Gallery.

“Being successfully selected for 'The 2007 Chelsea Fine Art Competition' meant so very much to me! And, being selected by Ms Tina Kukielski felt like such an accomplishment that it didn't feel real, I almost didn't believe the result. Before the Chelsea Fine Art Competition I had only been successful in winning acclaim for my painting, now my photography and painting stand side by side. I come from a line of painters, my grandfather Eric Pendlebury, and my father Anthony Pendlebury. Before now I have sold work overseas but this is the first show I have been involved in outside Europe . The 2007 Chelsea Fine Art Competition is definitely the highest point in my artistic career.” (Nathan Pendlebury, UK )

Agora Gallery director Angela Di Bello believes that participating in the Chelsea International Fine Art Competition takes courage and is an act of faith and belief in ones own talent and strengths. “Anyone who simply enters the competition is a winner,” she says.

The Chelsea International Fine Art Exhibition represents not just artists, but the countries and communities they hail from, each piece reflecting a little of humanity's many faceted soul. Out of respect for this and in an effort to grant joy to children in need, 25% of Agora Gallery's proceeds of sales resulting from the competition exhibition will be donated to Art Start an award-winning, nationally recognized program. Art Start works with children and teens facing the daily uncertainties and instabilities of living in homeless shelters. Though these children face many obstacles, they have dreams. Art start uses the arts to provide them with opportunities for success. They give them the tools, structure, support and most importantly a chance to be heard.

The competition deadline is March 7th 2008. Entries should ideally be submitted online. For further details, log on to www.Agora-Gallery.com/2008.

This was posted on the Art4Development Yahoo! Groups listserv.