The Fox Art Competition, which first took place in 1983, is judged by an independent UK artist to ensure that there is no connection to the several hundred entrants.
This year’s judge, artist Chris Mould, lives in Liversedge in West Yorkshire and because of coronavirus concerns will assess the entries as they are relayed live from the Jersey Arts Centre using the Zoom platform.
The challenge is being taken on by the team at Phillips Street with Mark Blanchard, curator of the Fox Collection.
‘We are looking forward to it as something very positive, rather than something onerous. On Monday we are going to run a test to make sure that the technology is all in place ready for the judge,’ he said.
The plan is to store all the submitted entries in the Benjamin Meaker Theatre at the Arts Centre where a fixed camera with a large monitor – allowing the team in Jersey to see how the works appear to the judge – will be installed in preparation for the selection which takes place on Saturday 19 September.
Mr Blanchard explained that they would try to replicate the conditions under which a judge, when physically present, would assess the work, immediately putting to one side pieces which had been selected and then returning to others which needed further assessment.
‘The pictures will probably be put on an easel in front of the camera and then can be taken down and lifted towards the camera so that the judge can see the details.
‘It’s only the fact that the artist isn’t present to do that himself which makes it different and that we have a camera lens instead so that we’ll be relying on other people to hold up the work for him. Otherwise it will work as it would have done if the judge had been present,’ he explained.
Jersey artists can submit their work to the Arts Centre from Tuesday to Thursday next week, a process which will be replicated in Guernsey where there is now a separate competition for the bailiwick. Mr Blanchard said that he expected a similar process to take place there.
Since it was first established to help promote the work of the Jersey Arts Centre while the shell of the building was still under construction, the Fox Competition has attracted a strong following within the Island’s artistic community with previous winners including Nick Romeril, Jason Butler and Ian Rolls.
This year’s opening and prize-giving is scheduled for Tuesday 13 October but the detailed arrangements for the evening will depend on Covid-19 rules at the time, Mr Blanchard said.
