“First Smash” Art Project – Art Experience Gallery

Art Experience Foundation is proud to present the fourth edition of “First Smash” Art Project. Following the success of the previous three editions, “First Smash 4” has extended the eligibility to applicants allowing more potential young artists to participate and enrich art forms. The organizer provides an exhibition space of 2500 square feet and all necessary assistance to the finalists, to showcase their ideas and inspirations to the public in a group show at Art Experience Gallery in summer 2017.

About Art Experience Foundation

Established in 2013 as a non-profit making organization by the owner of Art Experience Gallery, Mr. Jacky Yeung, the Foundation serves as a platform for potential artists in the field of contemporary art, to encourage young artists to exhibit their work, also to the mission of enhancing the appreciation of art in Hong Kong and promoting local artists.

Each year the Foundation organizes an art project named “First Smash” open calls for local art students and independent artists to submit their work, and giving the opportunity to young artists to showcase their work at Art Experience Gallery. It aims to open doors for young artists to achieve their goal in developing an art career as an artist, and to get a taste of collaborating with a gallery. In addition, the Foundation organizes a variety of art and cultural activities regularly to reach art lovers, including seminar and workshop with artists and curators, bringing art into people’s everyday life.

About “First Smash 4” Art Project

This project calls for all art submission (regardless to media or art form) from local final year and graduated art students, as well as Hong Kong based self-sufficient artists (regardless to nationality). It aims to discover the most inspiring, thought-provoking, original and contagious art pieces to showcase at the “First Smash” Art Exhibition. Every year the exhibition takes place at Art Experience Gallery during summer curate by the organizer. Each selected artist will exhibit one art piece at the exhibition. Participation in the art project will be selected by Art Experience Foundation team and a panel of established artists and art related performers.

Application

– An individual aged or under 45 years old who fulfills the following criteria is eligible to apply: – **Will be living in Hong Kong in the next 12 months.

Category:

1. Student

– Art students who graduated last year or in their final year of an art related courses from any higher education institutions in Hong Kong.

2. Independent Artist

– Currently Hong Kong based self-sufficient artist (regardless to nationality).

*Only applicants who have never participated in any commercial exhibitions, and or in any forms of collaboration with commercial galleries, is eligible to enter this application.

Important Dates

– Application deadline: 1st February 2017
– Panel interview: March 2017
– Confirmation of finalists: April 2017
– Exhibition dates: August – September 2017

Procedure

1. Application submission

– Download application form from below website: www.artexperiencefoundation.org

– Fill and sign the application form: including artist’s CV, artwork statement (no less than 500 words), at least four images or sketches of artwork, send to info@artexperiencefoundation.org (Subject title: First Smash 4 Art Project Submission / Applicant’s Name).

– Each applicant may submit one artwork, however it is acceptable if the artwork is formed by more than one component and need to be presented as ‘one unit’ in order to deliver a full concept.

– Artwork images or sketches format: resolution 300dpi, jpeg; sketches and or semi-finished artwork photos are acceptable if the works have not yet been created or completed. (*please label images clearly with the name of the artist, title, year, material and size)

– Artist’s CV and artwork statement: can be written in Chinese or English.
– Letters of recommendation from teachers or established artists can be attached (word or pdf format).

2. Confirmation of Application

– The applicant will be notified by email to the confirmation of their application. Should any applicants fail to receive a confirmation letter two weeks after their submission, please contact the organizer to ensure that the application has been processed.

– Decisions of admission are made exclusively by Art Experience Foundation, all finalists will be notified by email or phone in mid April 2017.

3. Selection Procedure

Selection for participation in the art project is divided into two phases:
– 1st phase: Art Experience Foundation panel will select applicants to enter the 2nd phase selection,

selected applicants will be invited to a face-to-face panel interview in March 2017, and to introduce the artwork in person.

– 2nd phase: the finalists will be carefully selected by a panel of established artists and art related performers. Final result will be announced in mid April 2017.