Welcome to New Lights, a charity formed in 2010 to promote and support emerging young artists in contemporary art in the North of England.

We offer many exciting opportunities to artists at a critical stage in their development, with our main event being a biennial, high profile exhibition held in one of the region’s stunning spaces. This year we are once again delighted to be working alongside The Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate.

From the entries we receive a panel of independent judges select the work to be exhibited, from this short-list of chosen work three prizes are awarded: The Valeria Sykes Prize – a £10,000 award; a £2,500 Sponsor’s Choice Award; and the Swinton Foundation Prize to showcase the winner’s work. The winner of The Valeria Sykes Prize also benefits from a wide-ranging mentoring scheme to help them develop the non-artistic side of working as a professional artist.

We are also actively exploring other ways of supporting all of the short-listed artists. This may include specific private views for gallery owners; tours of the exhibition to other galleries throughout the country and introductions to influential people in the art world. New and exciting possibilities are arising all the time as New Lights grows and develops.

Through a series of workshops, lectures and guided viewings, New Lights also plans to foster the enjoyment and appreciation of contemporary art amongst sections of the community who may feel excluded by standard art environments.