So you thought Oliver Proudlock was just reality TV, Instagram followers and T-shirt labels? Well, you’re not completely wrong – the MIC preface is still frequently attached to his moniker while over 700,000 of us are currently signed up to “like” his every move – but beyond fashion, column inches and social media, the influencer boasts a healthy fascination with the visual arts.
With that in mind, it’s perhaps less surprising then, that he’s this week been announced as the ambassador for a brand new award from arts site Rise Art: The People’s Choice Award.
“When the opportunity to be involved in Rise Art Prize came about, I couldn’t say no. I’m a huge supporter of initiatives such as this, that give amazing artists a platform to be seen,” he explains. Launched following reports relating to the industry’s exclusivity – a survey of 2,000 adult Brits found that one in six had never visited a gallery – the award gives the public the opportunity to choose their favourite contemporary artists, from a list of 25 (down from 2000).
“What’s great about The People’s Choice category, is that it’s voted for entirely by the general public,” Proudlock continues. “Getting people involved in art and igniting a passion within them is an incredible way to highlight the importance of funding the subject and help people find a way to reconnect with art.” Intrigued and wanna make your mark? Head here.