Hi – Thought Absolute Arts readers would be interested in this announcement.  Please let me know if you’d like more details.

Thanks,

Jen

646.495.9723; jhirsch@groupsjr.com

West Collection Launches $300,000 Collecting Initiative for Emerging Artists

New iPhone App Allows Public Voting for West Collects $25,000 Winner

NEW YORK (December 5, 2011) – Paige West, Founder and Curator of the West Collection and owner of Mixed Greens Gallery in New York City, launched today West Collects, a $300,000 international open call to bring emerging contemporary artists into the West Collection of Contemporary Art.

Also unveiled today is the new West Collects app, available for iPhone, which allows users to browse through the public West Collects submissions and vote for their favorite artist.  The artist with the most votes will receive a $25,000 award for his or her work and be part of the West Collects 2012 exhibition.

“I am thrilled to unveil this initiative, which offers artists around the world a chance to become part of the West Collection of Contemporary Art,” said Paige West. “There are not enough days in the year to get in front of all of the art worth seeing, but through West Collects, artists can now come to us for consideration.”

Any artist 18 years or older working in painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, installation or video may apply for free to West Collects online here.  All applications will be on view to the public on the website and through the West Collects app.   The application period closes on April 1, 2012. The $300,000 acquisition monies will be awarded to a varied selection of the best artists as chosen by curator Paige West.  The winners will be announced on May 15, 2012.

“Our new West Collects app will give the public a voice about which artist they like and who deserves support,” said Paige West. “Our goal is make the process more accessible and engaging.”

Apply to West Collects here: www.westcollects.com

West Collects app:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/west-collects/id470183808?mt=8

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About the West Collection

The West Collection of Contemporary Art, launched in 1996, is publicly housed in Oaks, PA.  Over the last 15 years, the West Collection has grown to include over 3,000 works from more than 675 artists from around the world.  Loans of West Collection exhibitions and works have been made to the Museum of Modern Art, the Tate Modern, the Corcoran, the Whitney, as well as numerous regional museums and Philadelphia institutions.   Paige West, founder and curator of the Collection lives in New York City.  For More information visit www.westcollects.org