Absolut Announces Art Writing Prize

Beginning in 2013, the Absolut Art Prize will feature two winners: one for artwork, and one for art writing. Both prizes will include nearly $25,000 in cash, plus a substantial budget to be put towards the winners' next project. The new format was announced this week at Documenta 13, and the prize will next be awarded in September 2013 in Stockholm.

Both the writer and artist winners will be given the opportunity to work on what the Absolut Art Bureau described in a press release as a "dream project," "free from commercial restraints," aided by a budget of over $31,000 for the writing winner, and nearly $125,000 for the art winner. The resulting artwork can be no larger than 328 square feet, and will ultimately be donated to one of Absolut's partner institutions. Similarly, the writer's new publication will be part of a new Absolut Critical Writing Series. The winners will also receive a lifetime supply of Absolut vodka.

The Absolut Art Prize, given out since 2009, has previously been awarded to Albanian artist Anri Sala (2011), Thailand's Rirkrit Tiravanija (2010) and Israel's Keren Cytter (2009). Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, artistic director of Documenta 13, will lead the new selection panel for the 2013 award.


Photo by: Simon Cederquist