foundation of Mr Charles D. D. Gibbs - Fine Art Gibbs Prize

Fine Art Gibbs Prize

For the best overall result in the ‘Fine Art’ degree programme at the Ruskin School of Art in Oxford, you will receive a one-off cash prize of about 940 EUR (800 GBP). A second, smaller prize of approximately 350 EUR (300 GBP), known as the ‘Accessit Proxime’, is awarded to the runner-up. The prize is funded from the estate of Charles D. D. Gibbs and awarded by the examiners. It recognises your overall work during your final year: your exhibition, your portfolio, your examination in the history and theory of visual culture, and your final dissertation.

Who can apply

• University: You are studying at the Ruskin School of Art at the University of Oxford.
• Degree: You are in your final year of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree programme.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.
• Grades: You have submitted the most impressive final project overall, as assessed on the basis of your exhibition, your portfolio, your examination paper and your essay.

How to apply

There is no separate application process. The examiners automatically select the winner on the basis of their final dissertations and examinations in their final year of study. The decision on who receives the prize is made each year as part of the BFA final examinations. In a year when no candidate is deemed sufficiently deserving, the examiners may decide not to award the prize.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a single grand prize for the best graduate from the Fine Art degree programme at a university; therefore, only Ruskin BFA students from the relevant year group are eligible to enter, and only one person will be awarded the prize. You cannot apply directly or improve your chances; the prize simply recognises the strongest final project overall. Think of it as recognition of outstanding achievement in your exhibition, your portfolio and your essays, not as funding that you can use to plan your future.