ŠkodaAuto India and Seventy Event Management Group have come together to create and present a award celebrating contemporary art in India called ‘The Škoda Prize’. The Škoda Prize will be an annual celebration of outstanding work in contemporary art in the country. The award will strive to recognize and reward young Indian artists under the age of 45. Each artist will be judged on the exhibitions, or other presentations of their body of work produced in the twelve months preceding the award.
The jury panel for the Award will be chaired by Mrs. Tasneem Mehta, the Managing Trustee and Honorary Director of the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum. Other Jury members include Mrs. Rajshree Pathy, Associate Professor at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and Dr. Kavita Singh a well-known art historian. Apart from the Jury Panel,an advisory committee headed by art critic, Girish Shahane will also be in place.
Speaking on ‘The Škoda Prize’, Mr. Thomas Kuehl, Board Member and Director Sales & Marketing, ŠkodaAuto 
India, said "Skoda has been a trend setter in providing clever & smart solutions for its consumer and art reflects a higher and an intellectual interpretation of the society at large. We look at this association as a great opportunity to provide a platform of recognition for the contemporary Indian artists who have been contributing richly to the global art scene. Associating with art is a natural extension of the brand positioning for an audience aspiring for premium and clever choices in life. The Å koda Prize aims to be the ultimate recognition for quality in the art world endorsed and underlined by high priests of the Indian Art industry."
Artists can enter their nominations for The Å koda Prize based on guidelines given on the official website www.theskodaprize.com. In addition to works entered into the nomination process by artists, the Advisory Committee has tied up with some of the best galleries across India who will nominate 3 artists each for the prize. The top 20 shortlisted artists will be featured in The Å koda Prize Catalogue and the artworks of the final three artists will be exhibited in New Delhi. The final winner will be announced in January and shall be awarded Rs. 10,00,000.
