The prize seeks to recognise "a British or UK-based artist of any age, at any stage in their career, who has made a significant contribution to the development of contemporary sculpture".
[1] A five-strong judging panel chaired by the gallery's director, Simon Wallis, selected the sculptors shortlisted for the inaugural prize.
[4] BBC Radio 4's Front Row noted, "Their work featuring household junk, hammocks, foam bubbles, magnetised pennies and paintings suggests sculpture is a broad church these days",[5] and writing in the Financial Times, Harriet Fitch Little called it "a shortlist of uncommon breadth".
[9] On 17 November 2016, following approximately two hours of deliberations by the panel, the winner of the inaugural prize was announced to be Helen Marten.
It comprised Michael Dean, Mona Hatoum, Phillip Lai, Magali Reus and Cerith Wyn Evans.