Last Updated on: 6th December 2023, 05:40 pm
The County Durham Community Foundation (the Foundation) has declared Rebecca Moss as the recipient of the 2023 Dover Prize, following a competitive selection process involving over 320 submissions from UK artists. Moss is set to receive £10,000, aiding the development of an exhibition to be premiered in Darlington in 2025.
A panel of judges from esteemed institutions such as The Bowes Museum, Arts Council England, Creative Darlington, Create Britain, Tees Valley University, and the Foundation were unanimous in selecting Rebecca Moss for her unique artistic style. Moss’s work, characterised by slapstick elements and the use of common items to explore absurdity, stood out among the submissions.
Sharon Gollan, Head of Grants at the Foundation, expressed her views on the award: “The Dover Prize is a significant opportunity for artists to undertake research and develop new work, which will be seen for the first time in Darlington. This year the judging was harder than ever – we’ve had so many excellent applications this year and it’s wonderful to see great talent from across the UK exploring opportunities here. Rebecca’s work immediately appealed to the judging panel with a very definite public facing and accessible approach; she is bringing innovative, clever, and very funny art to the region for all to engage with. We’re excited to see what Rebecca will create and share in the borough.”
The Dover Prize, now in its 25th year, was established by Peggy Nonhebel (née Dover) in 1998. It has since supported a multitude of artists, distributing over £85,000 in awards, under the stewardship of the County Durham Community Foundation.
On winning the award, Rebecca Moss stated, “I am thrilled to win the Dover prize, at a very timely moment in my work and life. With this prize I plan to explore Darlington’s industrial heritage, thinking about pre-electronic power and energy, and drawing upon my interest in mechanisms that are activated by water. This project will build upon themes of movement, animation and kinetic artworks. I still can’t believe I won, and I am so grateful for this award.”
Vicky Sturrs, a member of the Dover Prize judging panel and Director of Programmes and Collections at The Bowes Museum, shared her enthusiasm: “I’m extremely pleased to congratulate Rebecca Moss as this year’s Dover Prize recipient. This award will give Rebecca the opportunity to further develop and explore her practice. I already love the absurdity of her work, its humour and the way her almost DIY-like films captivate audiences. I see this every day in our visitors to The Bowes Museum where three of Rebecca’s films feature in our first-floor exhibition The Magic of the Silver Swan. I’m excited to see what she does next in our region.”
