Thursday, March 27, 2008

Saatchi Gallery presents the gallery portfolio, an online application through which students at the primary and the high school levels have the chance to display their work in an environment that will grant them the exposure they need to encourage future artistic endeavours. With this application, teachers or other representatives of the school create a profile for their respective institutions, and these profiles give the schools an opportunity to promote and attract visitors to their physical school premises or to their school’s own art website. Most importantly, the institution’s art department is featured via the presentation of the works of its most talented students.

The students works are uploaded along with student profiles and descriptions of the work itself. Descriptions of the school’s artistic achievements and events are also facilitated on their very own page. In addition, the Saatchi Gallery goes to great lengths to encourage these schools and their art students, through the regular hosting of competitions that grant monetary compensation. These rewards are used to equip the art departments of schools whose students show great promise in the visual and/or performing arts. The competitions also endow the winning and runner-up students with funds to facilitate their own artistic efforts.

The Saatchi Portfolio is a valuable resource that grants artistic exposure and benefits to these primary and secondary educational institutions and their students, and even gives some of these young individuals the chance to see their work on physical display at the Saatchi Gallery. Uploading the artwork of the students at your school could grant your department a significant boost in enrolment and student interest. Participating in the Portfolio aspect of Saatchi’s artistic outreach has favourable and tangible benefits that can place the young artistically inclined person on the right track toward a prosperous and fulfilling career in the visual arts.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Art Portfolios

An art portfolio reflects the artist's vision and represents his or her technical and artistic skills. The artist's understanding of the technical aspects as well as the business and the seriousness of art are judged through the portfolio.

At Saatchi Gallery all Primary and Secondary schools are now able to create school profiles and display artwork created by all pupils between 4-18 years old. The portfolio of an artist plays an essential role in deciding the success of the artist and evaluating the business. An impressive art portfolio can ensure the acceptance by renowned art colleges and win scholarships for the artist.

The Portfolio Schools Prize has also been launched, and is open to all schools around the world. A panel of art critics will choose their favourite works each year. A first prize of £10,000 will be awarded to the winning school’s art department. A further £2000 will be given to the winning pupil to be spent on computer and art equipment. There will be two runner-up prizes of £5000 each awarded to the second and third place schools with a further £1000 to each of the winning pupils.

Apart from maintaining diversity to ensure the right impression, art portfolios must be clear and properly organized. The artist should ensure that the paintings are well dried, before including them in the portfolio. They need to be labeled properly, including the name and address of the artist.