History of the Competition

On 25 May 2012 the final of the ARTiculate! competition took place at Patriarshiy Palace at Moscow Kremlin.

Schoolchildren and students from 21cities of Russia and the near abroad sent their essays on the following topics: “My Henry Moore”, “My Favourite Sculpture” and “Sculpture in the Urban Space”. The competition was timed to the exhibition "Henry Moore and the Classic Canon of Modern Sculpture" (21 February – 10 May 2012) and the majority of essays’ topics was “My Henry Moore” that let explore Moore’s creative work and reflect on it.

As a result of the first (written) competition stage, 10 finalists were invited to take part in the second stage – public readings. Each of 5 schoolchildren and 5 students prepared a presentation defending the essay and reflecting their own ideas, impressions and methodology.

The British Council and Kremlin Museums express a special gratitude to New Art Centre Sculpture Park and Gallery that created original idea for ARTiculate! (ARTiculation Prize in the UK), let us use this wonderful practice in Russia as well as shared their experience and encouragement.

The Jury consisted of:

• Elena Gagarina – Director, Moscow Kremlin Museums
• Zelfira Tregulova – Deputy Director for Exhibitions, Moscow Kremlin Museums
• Olga Dmitrieva – Deputy Director for Scientific Work, Moscow Kremlin Museums
• Christian Duncumb – Deputy Director, British Council Russia.

The winner is fifteen-year-old Andrey Kuznetsov from Moscow school 1315, with the essay “My Henry Moore”. He is interested in photography and attends the arts school No. 6. «In the future I plan to become an architect, that’s why fine arts and sculpture are of interest to me” – said the winner. This autumn Andrey is going to make a trip to the UK organised by the British Council and visit London, Perry Green, and the New Art Centre Sculpture Park and Gallery , where the idea of the ARTiculation Prize was born.

Andrey Kuznetsov also shared the Audience Choice Award with Vsevolod Stroganov (Moscow, school 1944) and Ksenia Blokhina (Moscow State Pedagogical University) who made brilliant speeches on their topics “My Henry Moore” and “Sculpture in the Urban Space” and deserved gift catalogues and free entrance to all Kremlin Museums’ exhibitions during the year.

All the finalists got Diplomas and exhibition catalogues signed by the daughter of the great sculpture, Mary Moore. Some works that were not short-listed received a high appraisal of the jury and their authors will be rewarded with letters of commendation.

The British Council and Moscow Kremlin Museums congratulate the winner and thank all the participants of the competition for their creativity and enthusiasm!