Developing world arts prize rebranded

LONDON (Reuters Life!) - A prize highlighting artists working in difficult conditions in the developing world, won in 2008 by Zimbabwean playwright Cont Mhlanga, has been renamed and will be awarded in London in November.

Last year's ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize, worth $50,000 to the winner, has been rebranded the Orient Global Freedom to Create Prize after Orient Global, a Singapore-based investment group founded by New Zealand-born Richard Chandler.

"The Orient Global Freedom to Create Prize celebrates the talent of artists who bring messages of hope to places of turmoil and despair," Chandler said in a statement.

"It also recognises their courage to confront injustice in circumstances where there are visible costs and less visible rewards."

Mhlanga won the inaugural prize for his play "The Good President," which was staged in Zimbabwe's second city Bulawayo in 2007 before being banned for its perceived parallels with President Robert Mugabe.

According to the prize website (www.freedomtocreateprize.com), the total fund in 2009 is $125,000, including $50,000 to the winner, $15,000 to the runner up and $10,000 to the third placed artist.

There is also a $25,000 award called the Imprisoned Artist Prize and the $10,000 Youth Prize for individuals or groups aged under 18.

Submissions for all of the awards are open until August 14 and a shortlist will be announced in early September.