Round two for the Northern Art Prize as longlist is revealed. Logo design by Logistik

Curators from the North of England have made their nominations for the second Northern Art Prize. The competition, won last year by Nina Pope and Karen Guthrie, is open to contemporary artists of any age working in any media and living in the North of England.

The 24 nominations decided upon by distinguished gallery figures from the region will now go forward for final judging by a panel headed up by Nigel Walsh, Curator of Contemporary Art at Leeds Art Gallery.

Four entrants will be shortlisted and the winners announced on September 9 2008. An exhibition of the work of the final four will then be mounted at Leeds Art Gallery from September 20. The announcement of the over-all winner will take place on January 15 2009.

North-East nominations are: Catherine Bertola, Fiona Crisp, Graham Dolphin, Peter J Evans, Richard Forster, Stefan Gec and Briggitte Jurack.

Those nominated from the North West are: Simon Blackmore, Maxine Bristow, Suki Chan, Conroy and Sanderson, Nick Crowe and Ian Rawlinson, Jacqueline Passmore, Paul Rooney, Imogen Stidworthy and Maeve Rendle.

Yorkshire nominees are: Sabine Bieli, Clare Charnley, Bryan and Laura Davies, Matthew Harrison, Esther Johnson, Penny Klepuszewska and Katy Woods.

Last year's winners, Pope and Guthrie. This year's will be one of the names above. But who will it be? © Nina Pope and Karen Guthrie

Karen Guthrie from last year’s winning duo, Somewhere, said of the experience of being shortlisted and taking part:

“The Northern Art Prize was an unexpected opportunity to bring together a lot of work we had done in the last few years into one show," said Karen. "Just doing that was a satisfying experience that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.”

The winners of the competition will this year win £16,500 with each of the three runners-up receiving £1,500. Prize money is donated, as last year, by national communication and design agency, Logistik, who also design the prize’s artwork, and Arup, international engineering, design and planning firm.

While the prize money adds up to a significant benefit of winning, Karen also pointed out the way the competition can showcase contemporary artists and the prestige associated with the prize.

“I hope that the prize can continue to profile and value work that takes place beyond the commercial gallery sector and the mainstream," she said. "This approach can keep it distinct from the other major art prizes. I know from the feedback I’ve had since that the prize gives artists, art lovers and art students in the region a lot to be proud of.”