Janet Street Porter Unveils the Gordon's 'Judge For Yourself' Tour

Janet Street Porter Unveils the Gordon's 'Judge For Yourself' Tour

LONDON, November 8/PRNewswire/ --

- With Photos

- Millions to Join the Debate as the Turner Prize is Showcased for the
First Time Outside Tate Britain

Three weeks of colourful debate start today with almost 3
million(1) people being invited to give their opinion on the UK's most famous
contemporary art award, the Turner Prize. The Gordon's 'Judge For Yourself'
tour, created by the makers of Gordon's gin, signifies the first time that
the Turner Prize has been taken outside Tate Britain. The tour is unveiled
today at London Victoria train station by journalist and broadcaster Janet
Street-Porter and Minister for Culture, David Lammy MP; they will kick-start
the debate by posting their own opinions on the special comments wall.

The Gordon's 'Judge For Yourself' tour will travel to mainline
train stations across the UK over the next three weeks; London Victoria from
today until 12th November, Manchester Piccadilly 15th-19th November and
Edinburgh Waverley 22nd - 26th November.

The Turner Prize remains the most hotly debated arts prize in
the UK and this year up to three million commuters will be able to view the
exhibition with a video guide to each artist's submission, interspersed with
the comments and thoughts of Turner Prize visitors. Interactive screens,
biographies and audio guides will contain insights on each artist and their
works.

A scheduled programme of talks by expert guides from Tate
Britain will provide valuable information on this year's exhibition. Having
the opportunity to judge the Turner Prize for themselves, visitors to the
tour will be able to write their opinion on the comments wall. The wall will
form the focal point of the installation, capturing and fuelling the
nationwide debate as the tour travels on to Manchester and Edinburgh.

Speaking at today's unveiling, Janet Street-Porter said: "For
the first time ever, the Turner Prize is accessible to millions of commuters.
The Gordon's 'Judge For Yourself' tour offers people the chance to take a few
minutes out of their normal day to absorb the work of this year's four
finalists and to contribute their opinion.

"Ever since Malcolm Morley won in its inaugural year in 1984,
the Turner Prize has persuaded more and more people to take an interest in
art and has showcased the leading contemporary artists of the day. The great
thing about the Turner Prize is that it thrives on debate and evokes opinion
in us all. The Gordon's 'Judge for Yourself' tour is a fantastic initiative
because it brings the Turner Prize to so many more people, inviting those who
might not have seen the exhibition to join the colourful debate that
surrounds it."

The 'Gordon's Judge For Yourself' tour will remain in London until this
Saturday. It will then be unveiled at Manchester Piccadilly station on
Tuesday 15th November by contemporary graphic designer, Peter Saville; Leader
of Manchester City Council, Cllr Richard Leese and Lord Mayor of Manchester,
Mohammed Afzal Khan. The tour will then move to Edinburgh Waverley station on
Tuesday 22nd November and will be opened by Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark
and Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Patricia Ferguson MSP.

Janet Street Porter said: "Since studying architecture, I've
been very interested in public spaces. Stations are often lifeless
environments and I support any initiative that would invigorate these spaces
used by so many people each day. By taking the Turner Prize outside the walls
of Tate Britain and into stations, the Gordon's 'Judge for Yourself' tour
will provide a breath of fresh air to concourses across Britain, and take
this great exhibition to millions more."

Kathy Sawtell, marketing manager for Gordon's gin, said: "As
one of the most prestigious arts awards, the Turner Prize is renowned for
inspiring debate and by hosting the Gordon's 'Judge For Yourself' tour, we
hope to encourage commuters to make up their own minds about this year's
Turner Prize. Our aim is to help Tate Britain take contemporary art to a
wider audience, engaging millions who might otherwise never have seen the
Turner Prize exhibition.

Stephen Deuchar, director of Tate Britain, said: "This year's
exhibition is as strong as ever and has already inspired much debate. A
pioneering initiative such as this will give many more people the chance to
express an opinion and this is something we welcome as we seek to encourage
debate about contemporary art in the UK. We also hope it will inspire people
to visit the exhibition at Tate Britain."

The Gordon's 'Judge For Yourself' tour has been designed in
conjunction with Tate Britain and represents the second year of support of
the Turner Prize from the makers of Gordon's gin, the first commercial
sponsor since 1989. As part of its commitment to the Turner Prize and the
artists, the team at Gordon's has also doubled the prize value from GBP20,000
to GBP40,000 for the three years of its sponsorship. The winner will receive
GBP25,000 with the three other shortlisted artists collecting GBP5,000 each.

Reference

(1) Based on combined footfall figures in London Victoria, Manchester
Piccadilly and Edinburgh Waverley stations (2.8 million). Source: AC Nielsen

Notes to Editors:

Pictures accompanying this release are available through the PA
Photowire. They can be viewed at www.mediapoint.press.net or
www.prnewswire.co.uk

Source: Gordon's and The Turner Prize

For further information, please contact: Caroline Greenaway/Betty Nwosu/Katharine Hogan at Trimedia Communications Tel: +44-(0)20-7471-6871/6840/6843 email: caroline.greenaway@trimediauk.com / betty.nwosu@trimediauk.com / katharine.hogan@trimediauk.com or Cleo Smeeth at Diageo Great Britain, Tel: +44-(0)20-8978-8608, email: cleo.smeeth@diageo.com

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