RIBA International Prize goes to Peruvian university campus

Our daily round-up of news from the art world

Peruvian university campus wins RIBA International Prize | The Royal Institute of British Architects has named Irish firm Grafton Architects as laureate of its inaugural RIBA International Prize. Grafton’s design for the Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología in Lima, Peru, has been described by judges as a ‘modern day Machu Picchu’. Commenting on the building’s effect on the university’s students, the CEO of UTEC Carlos Heeren said: ‘Its open spaces push their ideas to new limits, its solid structure makes them feel safe to explore and take risks, and its elegant lines remind us all that beauty can be found even in concrete.’ The RIBA International Prize is a new award open to any practising architect in the world, intended to recognise structures with a truly transformative effect.

Falling pound threatens National Gallery’s plans to acquire Pontormo painting | The Art Newspaper reports that the sterling’s weak performance since the UK voted to leave the European Union may pose a threat to the National Gallery’s plans to purchase Jacopo Pontormo’s Young Man in a Red Cap (1530). According to TAN’s story, the American collector who purchased the work last year is yet to accept the National Gallery’s offer of more than £30 million, despite the fact he is technically obliged to do so under UK export regulations. However, as the report states, the high price of the work and the pound’s weak exchange rate make for an ‘unusual’ and possibly unprecedented situation.

Manifesta 12 announces OMA as ‘creative mediator’ | Rem Koolhaas’s OMA has been named as ‘creative mediator’ of the next edition of the Manifesta art festival, scheduled to take place in Palermo in 2018. According to a statement released by Manifesta, OMA will be tasked with creating an interdisciplinary group involving figures from the worlds of music, contemporary art, sociology, architecture, and cinema to look into Palermo’s governance and examine how modern cities are affected by a variety of pressing concerns.

Artists named for Jerwood Makers Open | The Jerwood Foundation has named the artists involved in the sixth edition of its ‘Jerwood Makers Open’ commission. Following a national call that attracted nearly 300 submissions, the Jerwood has selected Sam Bakewell, Juli Bolaños-Durman, Jessica Harrison, Marcin Rusak and Laura Youngson Coll, each of whom will receive £7,500 to conceive and create new work. The results will be exhibited at the Jerwood Foundation’s London space in June 2017.

Stefan Borchardt named director of Kunsthalle Emden | Stefan Borchardt, a curator at the Art Foundation Hohenkarpfen in southern Germany, has been appointed director of the Kunsthalle Emden. The Kunsthalle, which is celebrating its 50th birthday and 150th exhibition, operates as both a museum and an art school. Borchardt will replace Eske Nannen, one of the museum’s founders, when he takes up the role in February 2017.