ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Siobhán Hapaska Secures Inaugural New City Art Prize at MK Gallery

award · 2026-04-20

Siobhán Hapaska has been named the first recipient of the New City Art Prize, a £10,000 award presented at MK Gallery in Milton Keynes. The prize recognizes artists in the context of Milton Keynes, a major 1960s government-backed new town. Hapaska prevailed over fellow nominees Beatrice Gibson, Jimmy Merris, and Roger Palmer. A jury including Penelope Curtis, director of Tate Britain; Candida Gertler of Outset; artist Roger Hiorns; Adrian Searle, chief art critic of the Guardian; Anthony Spira, director of MK Gallery; and Julia Upton, chief executive of MK Community Foundation selected the shortlist. Curtis, Gertler, Hiorns, and Searle then determined the winner. The announcement was made on December 5.

Key facts

  • Siobhán Hapaska won the inaugural New City Art Prize
  • The prize is worth £10,000
  • The award was presented at MK Gallery in Milton Keynes
  • Milton Keynes is the largest of the 1960s government-backed new towns
  • The shortlist included Beatrice Gibson, Jimmy Merris, and Roger Palmer
  • The jury comprised Penelope Curtis, Candida Gertler, Roger Hiorns, Adrian Searle, Anthony Spira, and Julia Upton
  • Penelope Curtis, Candida Gertler, Roger Hiorns, and Adrian Searle selected the winner
  • The announcement date was December 5

Entities

Artists

  • Siobhán Hapaska
  • Beatrice Gibson
  • Jimmy Merris
  • Roger Palmer
  • Roger Hiorns

Institutions

  • MK Gallery
  • Tate Britain
  • Outset
  • Guardian
  • MK Community Foundation

Locations

  • Milton Keynes
  • United Kingdom

Sources