Cornish artists dream start

The artists are competing head-to-head for the annual Midas Award, a business bursary providing funding for studio space for a year, in a competition open to all Fine Art graduate students at the University College Falmouth (UCF).

After one of the four shortlisted semi-finalists has been awarded the coveted bursary, they will all showcase their work at an exhibition at Artonomy Fine Art in Truro from Saturday 27 October to Saturday 17 November 2007.

The bursary provides the winner with studio space at Redruth's Arts Centre Trust for a year. This gives them the opportuntiy to produce more work that will be featured in their own private exhibiton the following year at Artonomy Fine Art. The winner also gets support from Creative Skills, Cornwall's professional development agency for those in creative industries.

Steve Hindley, chairman of Midas, said: "We are delighted to be involved with such a great initiative that helps these artists make the challenging transition from college student to commercial artist. The award is also an exciting way for us to promote and aid creativity, which is so prevalent in Cornwall. Creativity is as important to Cornwall's success as the physical regeneration of the county which is currently taking place."

University College Falmouth's Principal, Professor Alan Livingston, added: "We are delighted to be collaborating with Artonomy and Midas on this new award scheme which is designed to help artists in the South West reach out to new audiences both within the region and further a field. It will not only enhance the sustainability of their practice but also raise the profile of contemporary art in Cornwall."

The four hopeful graduates were selected from UCF's recent summer shows by an independent panel of judges. The competing artists are; Gabrielle Beveridge, Amy Albright, Ian Penna and Rose O'Gallivan, for photography, painting, sculpture and print respectively.