The Tate has announced the shortlist for the 2017 Turner Prize, with the selected artists reflecting its recently lifted under-50 age limit.

This year’s shortlisted artists are: contemporary painter Hurvin Anderson, who draws inspiration from his youth in Birmingham’s African-Caribbean community; artist Andrea Büttner, whose works are often concerned with universal themes of poverty and religion; Rosalind Nashashibi, a renowned Irish-Palestinian artist from South London; and Lubaina Himid, who was at the vanguard of the British black arts movement in the 80s for her poignant explorations of culture, race and personal and political identity.

Though all nominated artists this year are over the age of 40, Himid and Anderson are particularly drawing attention for their status as leading pioneers of black British art.

The Turner Prize was created in 1984 to celebrate contemporary art in Britain, and each year sees four artists shortlisted, with £25,000 up for grabs. Known for launching the careers of some of the 90s leading Young British Artists (think Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst), the Prize has long been known for championing emerging artists. Its age ban, introduced in 1991, was enacted to encourage its reputation as a prize for memorable work done in the past year, rather than an award for lifetime achievement.

How exactly the new age-ban lift will the prize long-term is yet to be seen. But what the move echoes on a broader cultural level is the call for diversity we’re witnessing across creative scenes, not restricted to art. At women’s fashion week earlier this year, several designers were spotlighted for casting a refreshingly age-diverse line-up of models, from Dries Van Noten to Simone Rocha and Gareth Pugh.

The winner of the 2017 Turner Prize will be announced on 5th December at Ferens Gallery, Hull HU1 3RA.