In a move that invites direct comparisons with the Turner Prize Artes Mundi, the UK’s largest visual art prize, has announced that its fifth exhibition and prize will move from its usual slot in the spring to the autumn of 2012.

Ben Borthwick, Artes Mundi’s Artistic Director, said that moving the prize from spring to autumn would put it in line with other events in the international visual arts calendar – including the Frieze Art Fair and Liverpool Biennial. “We are aware that the opening coincides with Turner Prize and The Frieze Art Fair but we are relaxed about that, seeing these as different and complementary,” he added.

The new National Museum of Art, which opened in Cardiff recently, will host the Artes Mundi exhibition in October 2012. The £6.5m National Museum of Art, housed in National Museum Wales, Cardiff, has 800 square metres of contemporary art galleries. Ben Borthwick said: “These exceptionally beautiful spaces make a clear and very welcome statement about the importance of contemporary art in the museum’s vision.” Michael Tooby, Director of Learning, Programmes and Development at the National Museum of Art, said it wanted Artes Mundi to be shown at the best possible time: “That is in the autumn, when schools and colleges are back, when there are other drivers for audiences from outside Cardiff, with more links to other cultural initiatives such as new autumn programmes at the major performing arts venues.”

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