Goodwill hunting

A shortlist of 20 artists will be announced in October in a glossy catalogue that will feature their works. In the second round,the list will be pared down to three artists who will hold an exhibition. The winner will be declared in the final round in January,and will feature the winner at the India Art Summit. Apart from Singh,the jury comprises Tasneem Mehta,Managing Trustee and Honorary Director of the Bhau Daji Lad Museum,Rajshree Pathy of the arts initiative Contemplate,and Marianne Burki of Pro Helvetia,the Swiss Arts Council.

The prize is said to be the brainchild of Martin da Costa,CEO,Seventy Event Management Group,which is associated with Skoda. Art critic Girish Shahane is the head of the advisory committee. “In case of most other art prizes in India,the winner is required to be associated with the gallery awarding the prize. With Skoda the sponsors have no contact with the artists before and after they are shortlisted,” says Shahane,indicating that there will be no workshop or contract between the sponsors,the jury and the artists or their galleries. What does Skoda get out of this? “Nothing but goodwill and the joy of art,” says Thomas Kuehl,Director of Sales and Marketing,Skoda. We wait and watch.