A vast array of artworks will vie for the spoils in this year’s Border Art Prize, which will be officially opened with an awards ceremony at the Tweed Regional Gallery today (June 13).
A total of 381 entries have been received for the prize, including paintings, photographs and art made from clay, textiles, steel and stone.
Artists from northern NSW and south eastern Queensland delivered their entries last weekend for the annual art prize, which is a joint initiative of the Tweed Regional Gallery and the Gold Coast City Art Gallery supporting artists living and working in the region.
The two galleries take it in turns to host the exhibition.
‘The Border Art Prize attracts a wide variety of styles from well-known and emerging artists, reflecting the area’s lively artistic community’, Tweed Regional Gallery Director Susi Muddiman said.
Two-thirds of this year’s entries have come from Gold Coast and Tweed Shire-based artists. The remaining entrants live in the surrounding shires of Ballina, Byron, Kyogle and Lismore, as well as the Scenic Rim, Logan and Redland City.
Tweed Shire Council funds the $3,000 first prize, open to all entries, while the Friends of the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre Inc provide the money for the $1,500 second and $500 third prizes.
When Tweed Regional Gallery hosts the prize, a well-known and long-term supporter of the arts, Shirley Kennedy, provides funds for additional awards. In 2014, she is funding two $500 Shirley Kennedy Awards and two $250 Shirley Kennedy Encouragement Awards.
‘Experienced volunteers put in many hours of hard work last weekend as entries were delivered to the Gallery and staff are busily preparing the exhibition ahead of Friday’s opening night,’ Ms Muddiman said.
‘I have been pleased by the standard this year and found pre-selecting very difficult. We aim to display as many works as possible, to show the range of entries received is a cohesive and visually exciting exhibition.
‘We will have more works on display than the last time Tweed Regional Gallery hosted the prize.’
The 2014 Border Art Prize will be officially opened by the Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Barry Longland, tonight (Friday June 13) at 6.30pm and will feature a Welcome to Country by Deidre Currie. This year’s Border Art Prize judge, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery Director Jane Cush, will then announce the prize winners.
‘The Gallery is delighted Jane agreed to judge the prize,’ Ms Muddiman said.
‘In keeping with the joke about judges leaving after the announcements, Jane will be flying out the next day on an overseas adventure.’
