Perhaps some may interpret the Lexmark European Art contest¿the first pan-European painting prize competition¿as a call to revive traditional conservative painting, an art medium that many disregard to have been long overthrown by more radical art movements. The Lexmark European Art prize is of 30,000 Euros. With a total of 1,972 entries from participants of 34 European nations, painting proves to be anything but extinct. The judges are confident of the renaissance of painting, a reason they find the contest to be an excuse to celebrate the use of the medium and hopefully, a change in the regime of today¿s art market. According to chairman Brendan Neiland, keeper of the Royal Academy, the contest is an initiative to irradicate the idea that conceptual and installation art have replaced painting. He, along with his colleague judges, are already down to 10 final paintings. The shortlist of artworks includes four artists from the United Kingdom, two artists from Germany, two from Italy, one from Poland and one from Switzerland. The winner will be announced in October during FIAC in Paris.