Vauxhall has launched an annual arts bursary programme called the Vauxhall Collective. Every year it identifies up and coming creatives in various sectors, including photography, and gives them a commission. The new Style Council is made up of industry opinion leaders, who were asked to put forward names of young creatives they felt would be worth considering for the commission. The Style Council will make their final decision on who should get the commission and the result will be announced in mid September. The winning photographer will then be commissioned to create a series of photographs based on the theme of the Great British Road Trip.

Vauxhall Collective Press Release

Industry experts join Vauxhall to support UK rising talent across the arts

Vauxhall continues its arts programme to support up and coming creative talent in the UK with the announcement of the Style Council

In an exciting new departure car company Vauxhall has invited a panel of the creative industry’s most influential representatives to advise on this year’s Vauxhall Collective. Across six categories - craft and design, fashion, film, fine art, photography and theatre - a host of leading industry opinion formers from arts institutions including the Photographers’ Gallery, BFI, Film London, Crafts Council, Roundhouse, Donmar Warehouse, Hayward Gallery, ICA, Riflemaker, London College of Fashion and Central St Martins have formed a “Style Council”.

Style Council members have been tasked to pick six of the best young creatives, one from each sector, each of whom will receive a commission of up to £20,000 from Vauxhall, have their profiles raised in the media, and become part of the Vauxhall Collective for 2008.

The six commissions will tie into the theme of The Great British Road Trip, a retelling of the classic road trip story, with a very British twist. With the commissions totalling in the region of £120,000 this significant support programme for art in the UK, reflects Vauxhall’s ongoing commitment to style and design.

The Style Council collectively applied their expert knowledge to identify the finest upcoming talent in their respective sectors. The chosen candidates are considered to be on the cusp of success, and will receive the commission to help take their careers to the next level. The Vauxhall Collective 2008 members and details of their commissions will be announced in the autumn.

Amanda Nevill, Director of the BFI commented, “The Vauxhall Collective is a unique chance for established figures in the creative industries to support young UK talent. A commission with this level of financial backing can really make a difference to someone’s career.”

Whilst Jonathan Tuchner of Arts & Business said, “The Style Council is a unique opportunity for young British talent to receive the private financial backing they need to take their career to the next level. To paint a fair and true portrait of the arts in the UK we must celebrate and acknowledge how businesses like Vauxhall are leading the way in building capacity and inspiring cultural talent. This is exactly the kind of innovative and forward thinking approach, Arts & Business encourages businesses to make. I wish Vauxhall and each young creative every success.”

Style Council Members:
Craft and Design
• Isobel Dennis, group director, Upper Street Events
• Rosy Greenlees, director of Crafts Council
• Tamsin O’Hanlon, founder/director of Free Range graduate fair
• Danielle Proud, interior designer and Sunday Times columnist
• Henrietta Thompson, ex-Editor of Blueprint Magazine and freelance journalist
Fashion
• Nicki Bidder, managing director, Starworks and ex editor in chief of Dazed and Confused
• Sandy Black, Professor of Fashion & Textile Design Technology, London College of Fashion
• Gity Monsef, founder, Glassloves
• Martyn Roberts and John Walford, directors, Vauxhall Fashion Scout
• Brigitte Stepputis, head of couture, Vivienne Westwood
• Willie Walters, BA Fashion course director, Central St Martins
Film
• Maggie Ellis, head of production, Film London
• Lucia Helenka, film maker and past Vauxhall Collective member
• Philip Ilson, curator of the Vauxhall London Short Film Festival
• Amanda Nevill, director, BFI
• Elliot Grove, director, Raindance
Fine Art
• Karen Ashton, director, Ashton & Hayward, curator of the Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair
• Anthony Bennett, director, A Foundation
• Virginia Damtsa and Tot Taylor, directors, Riflemaker
• Anna Harding, director, SPACE studios
• Tom Morton, curator at Hayward Gallery and contributing editor at Frieze Magazine
• Alan Montgomery, Senior Specialist, Contemporary Art and Design, Bonhams
• Graham Phenix, director, Duck Art
• Emma Quinn, director of Live & Media arts, ICA
• Simon Rumley and Zavier Ellis, curators, The Future Can Wait
• Jonathan Tuchner, director of press, Arts & Business
Photography
• Rick Mayston, director, European Book Publishing, Getty Images
• Camilla Brown, senior curator, Photographers’ Gallery
• Kevin Cummins, photographer
• Rankin, photographer
• Sue Steward, freelance photography journalist
Theatre
• Marcus Davey, chief executive, Roundhouse
• James Bierman, acting executive director, Donmar Warehouse
• Nina Steiger, writers’ centre director, Soho Theatre
• Alex Fleetwood, producer, Hide and Seek

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