The Trustees of the Kuenyehia Trust for Contemporary Ghanaian Art (the ‘Kuenyehia Trust’) today announced the finalists of the 2015 Kuenyehia Prize for Contemporary Ghanaian Art.

The work of the shortlisted artists will be on exhibition in Accra from March 1 to March 31, 2015 and the winner will be announced at an event on April 2, 2015.

The shortlisted artists are:

1 Isaac Addico

2 Negyem Adonoo

3 Charles Agbetsoamedo

4 Kwame Akoto-Bamfo

5 Gideon Appah

6 Kwadwo Boateng Asare

7 Kelvin Haizel

8 Isshaq Ismail

9 Ian Kwakye

10 Michael Lokko

The panel of judges comprises Florence Benson, a leading promoter and collector of West African Art; Godfried Donkor, a London based artist who has represented Ghana at the prestigious Venice Biennale; Rikki Womegah Kwahu, artist and lecturer at Takoradi Polytechnic; Charlotte Langhost, an art historian and curator; and Constance Swaniker, sculptor and Managing Director of Accents & Arts.

 Ms. Swaniker who will chair the judging panel said "Ghana desperately needs such a platform on which undiscovered talent can leverage, in exposing them to exciting events in today's art scene."

Established by Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia in 2014, the objective of the Kuenyehia Prize is to identify, reward and help develop Ghana’s most outstanding artists between the ages of 25 and 40. In addition to prize money and materials totalling GHS 25,000, one winner and two runners-up will benefit from business training and coaching.

A member of the Advisory Board for the Kuenyehia Trust, Professor of Art History and Contemporary Art at University of Castilla La Mancha, Spain, Professor Juan Pablo Wert, a member of the pre-selection panel that narrowed down the entries received to the ten shortlisted.

Prof Wert said "I am confident that this initiative will be a significant step in the promotion of Ghanaian art and the building of an artistic system."

Kenyan PR guru and television personality Gina Din-Kariuki, also a member of the Advisory board said "The timing of this prize couldn't have come at a more opportune time showcasing the new and modern Africa whose people are proudly taking their seats on the global stage."

Elikem Nutifafa Kuenyehia himself said tje most important aspect of this prize is the personal and professional development it offers winners.

"I agree with Da Vinci’s view that Art is the queen of all sciences, communicating knowledge to all generations. It is therefore important that artists are encouraged to develop the right business skills and mind-set to build sustainable businesses. Art itself ought to be seen as a viable career and source of income."