2016 Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series with Russell Simmons

Bombay Sapphire® Gin and the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation has partnered with renowned Canadian painter Kim Dorland to announce the launch of Bombay Sapphire® Artisan Series in Canada. OTSN host Darriel Roy had a chance to speak with entrepreneur Russell Simmons as well as Canadian ambassador of the competition Kim Dorland. @SapphireGinUSA @OTSNmedia

From June 28 artists can submit an original piece of visual art, except film, to www.bombayartisan.com. The Grand Prize winner will receive a cash stipend to create a body of work for a solo exhibit at SCOPE Miami Beach 2017 Art Show and the opportunity to complete a public installation in 2017. The First Place Winner and People's Choice Winner will each receive a cash stipend to create a solo exhibit at a gallery in their region.

The Canadian ambassador of Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series, artist Kim Dorland, believes that good artists are everywhere just waiting to be discovered. "Exposure is the holy grail for young artists. It's such a competitive and saturated scene in a pretty small country." says Dorland. "Getting eyes on your work - especially with the potential for international attention - can make all the difference in a young artist's career."

Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation is dedicated to providing inner-city youth with significant exposure and access to the arts, and to offering exhibition opportunities for emerging and underrepresented artists. Russell Simmons and Danny Simmons, the founders of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, have been at the forefront of the competition since its inception in 2010, "We've succeeded in discovering some truly remarkable talent in partnership with Bombay Sapphire® Gin, and I'm very proud of that." said Russell Simmons. "This year, we're thrilled to open up the competition to visual artists in Canada and continue to discover and shine a light on their creativity and imagination."

All submissions must be received by August 17, 2016. For official rules visit www.bombayartisan.com.