Martin Greenland, Before Vermeer's Clouds, winner in 2006. Courtesy National Museums Liverpool

Controversial artists Jake and Dinos Chapman have joined the jury for the 25th John Moores Contemporary Painting Prize.

The Chapman brothers rose to prominence in the 1990s as part of the so-called YBAs or Young British Artists. Other judges include art critic Sacha Craddock and artists Paul Morrison and Graham Crowley, both former John Moores prize-winners.

The award is an open submission competition available to all UK-based artists working in paint and entries are being accepted from November 5 until February 15 2008.

Judging will take place throughout 2008 and will result in an exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool from September 20 2008 to January 4 2009, and will be a major strand in both the Liverpool Biennial and the city’s Capital of Culture celebrations.

Alexis Harding, Slump/Fear (orange/black), winner in 2004. Courtesy National Museums Liverpool

“The John Moores competition offers contemporary artists not only a £25,000 prize but participation in the John Moores exhibition,” said Reyahn King, director of art galleries at National Museums Liverpool.

“The exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery is a central strand of the Liverpool Biennial, and will be a showcase for contemporary artists during Liverpool’s time as the European Capital of Culture in 2008. Uniquely, the John Moores competition has stayed contemporary whilst maintaining its focus on painting over the half century since the first competition was held.”

The competition was founded in 1957 by Sir John Moores, founder of Littlewoods and a keen painter, and has seen almost 2,000 artists exhibit through it in the last 50 years, including David Hockney, Peter Doig and Richard Hamilton.

Details on how to register for the competition can be found on the National Museums Liverpool website.