Hasta La Ideas

A new art prize will likely come with prime seats to the Tribeca Film Festival. Actor and festival co-founder Robert de Niro has launched the Robert De Niro, Sr. Prize, which will honor an outstanding mid-career American artist with an annual award of $25,000 for achievements in painting. “I am proud to honor my father as an artist and pay tribute to his painting through the Robert De Niro, Sr. Prize,” said De Niro (pictured, with one of his father’s canvases) at a reception held Wednesday at his late father’s New York City studio. “By annually awarding an American artist who is recognized for exceptional quality in painting, we hope to support artists who are making a lifelong commitment to their art.” The prize will be funded by De Niro fils and administered by the Tribeca Film Institute, but the selection process will be left to a committee of to-be-named art world luminaries. They’ll nominate and select three finalists—who will take part in a group show hosted by the late artist’s estate—as well as the winner. The first prize will be awarded in 2011.

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