History of the EAC Art Awards

The first EAC Over 60s Art Awards took place in 1994. At that time, they were organised almost entirely on a voluntary basis, with judging carried out round the kitchen table, hanging of finalists’ artworks rehearsed around the bedrooms, and frequently, collection of art works for exhibition fitted into volunteers’ schedules. In that first year, they attracted over 1200 entries, with the first finalists’ exhibition at BMA House in Tavistock Square.

In subsequent years, the Art Awards continued to grow, attracting more entries, increased sponsorship and additional volunteers until it grew so big that it required professional management. At the same time, the annual exhibition of finalists’ work grew in size and reputation, moving on from BMA House to Central Hall Westminster, Olympia, the Business Design Centre (where the exhibition shared space with The Artists and Illustrators Fair) and more recently, to The Mall Galleries, and then The Bankside Gallery.

Over the 17 years since the Art Awards were launched, over 27,000 amateur artists, aged between 60 and 104, have entered the competitions, whilst approximately 1600 have been successful in having their work chosen for exhibition. Almost 50% of artists who enter the competition re-enter in subsequent years.