Bombay Sapphire and Russell & Danny Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation have teamed up to create the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series. Launched June 1st, this nationwide search aims to discover the next big names in both urban photography and multi-media art.

Twenty of the nation’s finest aspiring artists from these two fields will be shortlisted, before going on to compete for the top artisan title at a finale event during Art Basel Miami, December 2010. In partnership with Mark Ecko’s Complex magazine, emerging artists are invited to enter the Artisan Series contest by creating a piece of inspired original art, and uploading it via www.Complex.com/SapphireArt.

To kick the contest off, Mark Ecko’s Complex has created two pieces of inspired art, which embody the essence of the collaboration. Entrants need to submit their work online by August 31st through www.Complex.com, at www.Juxtapoz.com or www.12ozProphet.com.

All submissions will be judged by a panel and curators from around the country. Those who are selected will be invited to have their work displayed at a sequence of nationwide events, taking place from July through October. Ten fine arts photographers and ten multi-media artists will be drawn down from these heats to compete in the finale event during Art Basel Miami, where one photographer and one artist will be selected as the winners. They will then have their works installed at Rush Arts Gallery and Resource Center in New York City.