AN award which is being seen as the North's answer to the Turner Prize is launched today.

The Comme Ca Art Prize North is an attempt to highlight the creative talents of artists exhibiting outside the capital.

Open to contemporary visual artists living and working in the North-East, Yorkshire and the North-West, it carries a prize of £10,000.

Patron of the prize, Chris Ofili, said: "I very much hope this new prize will encourage and draw attention to artists working in the North."

The prize will be awarded by the Comme Ca company, which runs a gallery in Manchester and has staged several exhibitions in the North-East.

Co-director Claire Turner said: "Artists have led the way in the rise of the North and the civic pride of its great cities.

"It is often artists who are the pathfinders, opening up studios and galleries in run-down districts."

Judging will be made on commisioned work that has been exhibited in the Castlefield Gallery, Manchester.

The deadlines for entries is Wednesday, April 30. The shortlist will be announced in July and the winner announced on October 8.

* Nomination forms are available from www.commecaart.com