An artist with a fascination for Darlington’s linen-making legacy has been named the winner of the Dover Prize 2021.
Laura Wilson has been awarded the £10,000 bursary to develop a new body of work inspired by the town’s textile heritage, drawing parallels with her hometown of Belfast, once dubbed Linenopolis during the 19th century when it was a global centre for linen production.
“Darlington has such a rich history of producing linen,” said Laura. “Its rivers were famed for their excellence in bleaching; John Kendrew from the town patented the first flax-spinning machine; and the Peases Mill once dominated the centre of town. I’m so excited to have won, I didn’t quite believe it when the call came.”
In addition to the headline award, five further artists received £1,500 each to support their practice, thanks to an additional £7,500 of funding provided by County Durham Community Foundation and Creative Darlington.
Darlington-based collective blimey! is among the additional awardees, alongside Maud Haya-Baviera (Sheffield), Sophie Seita (Hackney), Sarah Grundy (Newcastle-upon-Tyne), and Carolyn Thompson (Scarborough).
The Dover Prize, established in 1998 through a bequest from philanthropist Peggy Nonhebel (née Dover), is managed by County Durham Community Foundation. It supports excellence and experimentation in the arts and creative industries and aims to raise the profile of contemporary arts in Darlington.
Sharon Gollan, Programmes Manager, said: “Laura’s proposal stood out for its ambition to explore the historical links between Darlington and Belfast and to work closely with local communities. The quality of submissions this year was exceptional, with entries from across the UK—it was a tough decision, but we’re thrilled with the final selection.”
Stephen Wiper, Manager of Creative Darlington, added: “These prizes are about giving artists the opportunity to create, explore, and share their work in Darlington. We received over 250 applications, and thanks to additional support, we were able to extend the reach of the prize and fund more artists during what has been a difficult time for the sector. The chance to experiment and develop work during a pandemic feels more vital than ever.”
Laura Wilson’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the 5th Istanbul Design Biennial, Victoria and Albert Museum, and The British Museum.
