Bombay Sapphire® Gin and Artist Kim Dorland Partner to Launch the Search for the Next Big Name in Visual Arts for the First Time in Canada, the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series

TORONTO, June 28, 2016 /CNW/ - Bombay Sapphire® Gin has partnered with esteemed Canadian painter Kim Dorland to announce the launch of Bombay Sapphire® Artisan Series, a competition with the aim of discovering the next big name in visual arts.

Since 2010, Bombay Sapphire® and the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation have provided emerging artists with an international platform to showcase their work. Now Canadian artists will submit their artwork online and selected artists will be rewarded with a platform to share their artistry with curators, collectors, and art enthusiasts around the world.

Artist Kim Dorland, the Canadian ambassador of the competition, knows that good artists are everywhere just waiting to be discovered. "Exposure is the holy grail for young artists. It's such a competitive and saturated scene in a pretty small country." says Dorland. "Getting eyes on your work - especially with the potential for international attention - can make all the difference in a young artist's career."

Starting June 28 artists can submit an original piece of visual art, except film, to www.bombayartisan.com. The Grand Prize winner will receive a cash stipend to create a body of work for a solo exhibit at SCOPE Miami Beach 2017 and the opportunity to complete a public installation in 2017. The First Place Winner and People's Choice Winner will each receive a cash stipend to create a solo exhibit at a gallery in their region.

Russell Simmons and Danny Simmons of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation have been at the forefront of the competition since its inception in 2010, "We've succeeded in discovering some truly remarkable talent in partnership with Bombay Sapphire® Gin, and I'm very proud of that." said Russell Simmons. "This year, we're thrilled to open up the competition to visual artists in Canada and continue to discover and shine a light on their creativity and imagination."

Bombay Sapphire®, Senior Brand Manager Brendan McDonough added "For the past six years Bombay Sapphire® Artisan Series has helped launch and strengthen the careers of many visual artists in the United States. In Canada, we have many creative and talented artists who would benefit from the exposure and opportunity Artisan offers. It's time for our artists to join the competition."

Artist submissions are now being accepted online at www.bombayartisan.com and must be received by August 17, 2016. For official rules visit www.bombayartisan.com.

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About BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® ARTISAN SERIES

The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE ARTISAN SERIES fosters the talents of emerging artists through a nationwide search for the best up-and-coming names in visual arts.  Each year, a handful of finalists are selected from thousands of online submissions and local gallery events to showcase their works in front of the world’s top art critics and buyers at the SCOPE MIAMI BEACH Art Show. Since its 2010 inception, the Series has received more than 20,000 submissions from inspired artists across the country and has precipitated the sale of artwork from the finalists’ pool. Media moguls, film directors and musicians have purchased these works of art since the Series’ inception.

About Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation

Founded in 1995 by brothers Russell, Danny and Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, a 501c3 organization, is dedicated to providing inner-city youth with significant exposure and access to the arts, and to offering exhibition opportunities for emerging and underrepresented artists. Over the past 20 years, Rush has developed a broad base of friends, collaborators and supporters dedicated to supporting its mission. In addition to the 3,000 students served annually in its education programs, each year Rush exhibits the work of over 100 emerging and community-based artists in its galleries, and welcomes over 10,000 gallery visitors to its spaces in Chelsea, Manhattan (Rush Arts Gallery) and Clinton Hill, Brooklyn (Corridor Gallery). For more information, visit www.rushphilanthropic.org.

SOURCE Bombay Sapphire

For interviews and high-res image requests: Deanne Moser, Pomp & Circumstance, 647.888.9388, [email protected]; Ania Panasiewicz, Pomp & Circumstance, 647.273.9869, [email protected]