Turner Prize comes to Towner Gallery in Eastbourne

The Turner Prize started almost 40 years ago and aims “to promote public debate around new developments in contemporary British art”.

People will be able to see the exhibitions of the four shortlisted artists from Thursday until April 14 next year.

They are Jesse Darling, Ghislaine Leung, Rory Pilgrim and Barbara Walker.

Jesse Darling bent a full-sized roller coaster into the skeletal form of a woolly mammoth for one of his exhibitions. Picture: Ben Westoby

The artists’ work will be presented at the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne and the winner will be announced on December 5.

They get a £25,000 prize while the other shortlisted people get £10,000 each.

Turner Prize 2023 is part of “Towner 100” – a year-long centenary celebration of arts and culture across Eastbourne. 

Joe Hill, director at Towner Eastbourne, said: “We are delighted to announce that Towner Eastbourne will host the 2023 Turner Prize. It will be a very special moment for our communities and for Towner, and a wonderful centrepiece to our centenary year programme. 

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“The event will not only allow current and new audiences to experience some of the very best in contemporary art in our brand new galleries, but it will also reignite the visitor economy in East Sussex, with events planned across the county as well as across our own town to coincide with the exhibition. I look forward to welcoming everyone to Towner in 2023 and would also like to thank Tate for this wonderful opportunity.”

The prize is named after 19th century artist Joseph Mallord William Turner, who was considered “innovative and controversial” at the time.

The prize is normally given out at Tate Modern art gallery in London but a location outside of London is chosen on alternating years.

Stephen Holt, leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, said: “We are thrilled to be welcoming such a prestigious national event to one of our town's best-loved cultural venues and we know the impact that it will have on the town will be transformational. 

“We look forward to hosting an event that will engage our children and young people, encourage us to come together in a moment of civic pride, attract new visitors to Eastbourne and give world-class artists an opportunity to show their work at the fantastic Towner Eastbourne.”

For more information, visit https://townereastbourne.org.uk/whats-on/turner-prize