Originally a charity, the SAF works towards raising money to help disadvantaged children in Asia and using the arts as a form of rehabilitation, education and therapy.
In 2013, the SAF set up the Make It Better project[1] (MIB) that allows for weekly art therapy workshops to take place across Hong Kong and Asia, mostly focusing on under-privileged families' children.
[2] This prize, hosted annually in Hong Kong, is a visual arts competition among 30 finalists whose work is then auctioned to raise funds for the MIB project and other charities.
The Sovereign Art Foundation invites a network of experts from either Europe, Asia or Africa to nominate artists to participate in the prizes.
During the exhibition the final judging is performed live and the winner of the US$30,000 first prize is announced and an additional US$1,000 is given to the artist with the public vote for best work.
In 2013 The Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF) launched the Make It Better Project (MIB), an initiative designed for children from low-income families and those with special educational needs.
Make It Better aims to support these children by offering them empowering learning activities reinforced by expressive arts.
MIB runs weekly workshops in partnership with experienced organisations and schools that help identify those children most in need of support.
[1] M'Lop Tapang works jointly with children and their families to access education, health care, counselling, income generation initiatives and other services needed to secure a better future.
The Kalki Welfare Society is a non-profit organisation working for vulnerable children of Pondicherry, India and nearby areas.
Partners are sought for the sponsorship of the key events and previous exhibitions and auction dinners have been supported by Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, Barclays Wealth, Jaeger Le Coultre, Cathay Pacific, Sotheby's, ADM Capital, Sutton and many others.
The second part of the judging process will take place live, at the exhibition in Hong Kong where the art prize winner will be announced.
Teachers and department heads from secondary schools and universities are invited to nominate their best art students to enter the prize.
After two rounds of judging both online and in person, the final shortlisted works are exhibited in a prominent space, usually an art fair, where the public are invited to vote on their favourite piece.