The Portrait Award, now in its 33rd year at the National Portrait Gallery and 23rd year of sponsorship by BP, is an annual event aimed at encouraging artists to focus upon and develop portraiture in their work.

It is another event that shows BP's commitment to the arts as the global oil and gas company is also the Premier Partner of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad which is the largest cultural celebration in the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The BP Portrait Award 2012 exhibition will run at the National Portrait Gallery from June 21 to September 23 and will therefore be open during the period that the Olympic and Paralympic Games hits the English capital.

The BP Portrait Award is open to all artists over the age of 18 and provides an important platform for portrait painters.

We are delighted to continue our support of the BP Portrait Award and look forward to what we expect to be another year of fantastic entries," said Des Violaris, the UK Director of Arts and Culture at BP.

The National Portrait Gallery itself is located in central London, directly opposite Trafalgar Square which will be one of the Live Sites at the London 2012 Games with a big screen showing the best of the sporting action.

"The quality of the entries and the range of styles in 2011 was outstanding," said Sandy Nairne, the Director of the National Portrait Gallery.

"I look forward to the BP Portrait Award 2012 and thank BP for their continuing support."

A cash award of £25,000 ($38,838/€29,795) will go to the First Prize winner who will receive, at the judges' discretion, a commission worth £4,000 ($6,214/€4767).

The prize winners and exhibition will be selected by a judging panel chaired by Sandy Nairne, while all 2012 exhibitors will be eligible to submit a proposal for the BP Travel Award.

The aim of the Award is to provide the opportunity for an artist to experience working in a different environment, in Britain or abroad, on a project related to portraiture.

Entry forms are now available here and the closing date for entries is Monday 13 February 2012.

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