We are delighted to launch the 2024 edition of our biennial contemporary art prize The Merrion Plinth.
Open to all forms of contemporary art we are inviting professional artists to enter this open submission competition. As dedicated supporters of late 19th and early 20th century art, we aim to support living artists by sponsoring this prize honouring outstanding talent. Our aim is to provide a platform for artists to bring their work to new audiences and be seen alongside some of the great Irish artists of the last century. Our collection holds some significant artworks relevant to the history of Irish visual culture and our ambition is to promote the importance of visual art being made today. The selected artwork will be exhibited in a dedicated area in The Merrion Hotel
The Merrion Plinth is a biennial Contemporary Art award that was first held in 2019. As dedicated supporters of visual art, we at The Merrion Hotel are very proud to sponsor this prize of a €5,000 bursary and honour outstanding talent. In 2022, a shortlist of five were selected from the many submissions received and Susan Mannion was announced as the winner of our 2nd Merrion Plinth Award. Susan was presented with the prize of €5,000 by Mr Lochlann Quinn, Chairman of the Merrion at a reception in the hotel on July 4th 2022 and her work, Liminal Space, can be seen in the Merrion’s glass link. Susan says, “Winning the Merrion Plinth Award gave me the confidence and financial support to create a new artwork, which was displayed in the beautiful Merrion Hotel building, keeping company with artwork from the magnificent hotel art collection. I thank the Merrion Hotel Awards Committee for the award that allowed me the opportunity to raise the profile of enamel art and to create a larger enamel panel, the type of work that only comes into existence through funding from commissions or prizes such as this award that allow artists, such as myself, to create more ambitious, large-scale works.”
Open to all professional artists resident in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK. Open to artists in all visual art forms that adhere to guidelines
To view and download more information click here.
To download an application form click here.
As dedicated supporters of visual art, The Merrion Hotel aims to support contemporary artists by sponsoring this prize honouring outstanding talent. The Merrion Plinth will continue to run as an open submission competition every two years.
Our intention is to provide a platform for artists to bring their work to new audiences and be seen alongside some of the great Irish artists of the last century.
