The Turner Prize was founded by Tate's Patrons of New Art. They wanted a name associated with great British art. They chose JMW Turner (1775-1851) partly because he had wanted to establish a prize for young artists. It also seemed appropriate to choose the name of an artist whose work was controversial in his own day.

The prize is awarded to a British artist under fifty for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation in the twelve months before 9 May 2004. The winning artist walks away with £25,000, with £5,000 going to each of the other shortlisted artists.

Although the public are invited to nominate artists, the final decision is made by the jury. This year's jury is: Louisa Buck, London correspondent, The Art Newspaper; Kate Bush, Head of Art Galleries, Barbican Centre; Caoimhín Mac Giolla Léith, Art critic and Lecturer, Modern Irish Department, University College Dublin; Eckhard Schneider, Director, Kunsthaus Bregenz; Nicholas Serota, Director, Tate and Chairman of the Jury.

Work by the shortlisted artists will be shown in an exhibition at Tate Britain beginning on 18 October 2005. The winner will be announced at Tate Britain on 5 December during a live broadcast by Channel 4 starting at 8.00pm