SPACE

The Valerie Beston Artists' Trust is a charity established in 2006 to support young artists in the London area who might be struggling with the cost of establishing a fine art studio practice, including studio rental, artists' materials, living costs and post-education critical support. The charity was established under the will of the late Valerie Beston who, for most of her life, worked for Marlborough Fine Art, much of it dedicated to the work of Francis Bacon and other artists from the London School, such as Lucian Freud and Frank Auerbach. In June 2007, the VBAT awarded its first Valerie Beston Young Artists' Prize to Laura Oldfield Ford, a post-graduating student from the Royal College of Art. Laura's work particularly impressed the Trusts' two judges, Pilar Ordovas, head of Post War & Contemporary Art at Christie's London and Catherine Lampert, Curator. The prize is made up of four main elements including a SPACE studio for one year. The VBAT award also includes a cash prize of £2,000 towards materials, an exhibition at the end of the year and support from a RCA tutor. Laura has successfully completed her year and has moved into another Space studio at the Triangle. She hands over her old studio to the new VBAT artist for award period 2008-9, Lydia Cecile Gifford, also from the RCA. We wish Laura well whilst doing all we can to continue to support her and we warmly welcome Lydia as she takes up residence in her new studio. SPACE along with the Valerie Beston Artists' Trust looks forward to supporting her throughout the coming year.