Actor Dennis Hopper (left) laughs with artist Mark Wallinger after he won the Turner Prize 2007 at the Tate Liverpool Gallery in Liverpool

THE Turner Prize has become one of the most important dates on the UK’s arts calendar – but it hasn’t always been so highly regarded.

It was started up in 1984, and initially, judging art in such a way was considered demeaning by critics.

The first winner, Malcolm Morley, was unpopular, mainly because he had lived in the US since 1958 and he didn't even turn up to receive his award. The second winner, Howard Hodgkin, met with widespread approval.

From then on the rules of the competition were constantly tweaked with varying levels of success, until the arrival of Tate director Nicholas Serota in 1988.

For the first time, only artists were considered for the prize and the shortlist was dropped, with the Tate jury announcing the winner without any sense of competition.

Again, there was outcry and in 1989, the event was cancelled.

The Turner Prize as it is now recognised is largely thanks to sponsorship from Channel 4, who have covered the prize since 1991, bringing back a public exhibition of just four works.

The prize is now worth £25,000 to the winning artist and recent winners have included transexual potter Grayson Perry, and Damien Hirst, who won for Mother and Child Divided in 1995.

Tracy Emin’s famous My Bed was nominated in 1999, although she has never won.