Over a period of three months, we received over 2,200 submissions for the Emerge competition across twelve categories: Architecture, Art, Craft, Creative Writing, Design, Digital Art, Fashion, Film, Gaming, Music, Performance and Photography. Our focus for the Awards was to champion the 36 finalists whose works were handpicked by a panel of leading industry judges.
Guests including sponsors, partners, judges and friends were treated to a mesmerising solo performance, Elephant in the Room by Lanre Malaolu, winner of the Emerge Performance Prize, followed by Music category winner, Breantonia who gave us a taster of her newly-released debut EP, Organic.
A Gaming station encouraged attendees to test out the highly-addictive Maomao Castle by finalist Quang Nguyen (you heard about it here first!) and winning game, Empires of the Undergrowth by Liam Comerford (Slug Disco).
Film Prize finalists’ short films, Borders (Elizabeth Mizon), Hope Dies Last (Ben Price, Bolo Films) and Learning to Swim (Ruth Grimberg) were showcased throughout the evening while sponsors, SubPac were on hand to enhance guests’ experience of the Digital Art and Music finalists’ works, using their state-of-the-art backpacks.
What a great way of shining light on and developing emerging talent! I feel privileged to have had access to the work of an amazing array of artists. The wealth and diverse range of entries is testament to the talent that Zealous attracts.
Peter Higgin
Co-founder of Punchdrunk (Performance judge)
Set up in response to the changing nature of the UK’s relationship with Europe, we wanted to provide the creative industries with a strong, unified voice, by promoting and safeguarding the interests of emerging creative talent from all backgrounds.
We couldn’t have achieved this without involvement of brilliant individuals and organisations based across the UK. We’re incredibly grateful to all those who offered their support in making the Emerge Awards such a success.
Here’s to the future of creativity in the UK!
The cash prize will be hugely beneficial to the development of my practice at this early stage in my career. I am really thankful to Zealous for the hard work that has gone into the Emerge Awards.
Jake Moore
Emerge Digital Art Prize winner
Congratulations to our Winners!
Architecture – Khanh Nguyen
Art – Maxwell Rushton
Craft – Pinkie Maclure
Creative Writing – Emma-Marie Smith
Design – Katie O’Rourke
Digital Art – Jake Moore
Fashion – James Reeves
Film – Elizabeth Mizon
Gaming – Liam Comerford
Music – Breantonia
Performance – Lanre Malaolu
Photography – Nicholas White
