The Koori Mail Indigenous Art Award 2021 is a new art prize open to artists of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.
Lismore Regional Gallery and The Koori Mail are calling out for entries to the inaugural event whuich aims to encourage entries from established, mid-career, and emerging Indigenous artists from across the country working in any medium.
The Koori Mail Art Indigenous Award prize money of $10, 000 will be awarded on 4 December along with the Bundjalung Art Award with prize money of $2 500 – this award is open to Bundjalung artists and/or Indigenous artists working on Bundjalung country. The Innovation Art Award with a prize of $2,500 is open to Indigenous artists living in Bundjalung, Yaegl and Githabul country and the Youth Art Award with a $500 prize is open to Indigenous artists nationally from 12 to 24 years of age.
Koori Mail proud to be supporting art award
Naomi Moran, General Manager of The Koori Mail, says The Koori Mail is proud to be supporting this art award for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. ‘As an Aboriginal owned and run business, profits go back into our communities through sponsorship and initiatives that support Indigenous people and communities, including the arts.
‘We strongly encourage artists to engage with this art prize and share their stories with us.’
The prizes have been generously supported by The Koori Mail, Healthy Aspirations and an
anonymous donor.
The judge of the Koori Mail Indigenous Art Award 2021 is Djon Mundine OAM FAHA. Mundine is a Bundjalung man and a foundational figure in Australian art. He is a strong supporter of creative practice in Bundjalung Country and a friend and advisor to Lismore Regional Gallery. Mundine is a fierce advocate, consistently contributing to the development and exhibition of contemporary Aboriginal art in Australia and
internationally.
Aboriginal people are everywhere and Aboriginal people do everything.
Mundine says Aboriginal people are everywhere and Aboriginal people do everything. ‘Australia wide we need to heal our country by painting, performing, by making art. We are regaining our connection and healing.
‘The Koori Mail is edited here in the Northern Rivers, but it is engaged in conversations for all Aboriginal people across the continent. Our conversations inside this publication are a form of healing. And it’s so appropriate that The Koori Mail are supporting this other form of conversation.’
Ashleigh Ralph, who recently took up the role of Director of Lismore Regional Gallery, says the gallery is thrilled to present the first Koori Mail Indigenous Art Award in December. ‘With thanks to generous contributions from The Koori Mail and valuable private sponsors, we look forward to awarding innovative contemporary indigenous artistic practice both from the Northern Rivers region and nationally.’
Free to enter
The event is a non-acquisitive award that is free to enter. Entries are submitted online and close at midnight AEST on Friday 24 September, 2021. The winner will be announced at Lismore Regional Gallery on Saturday 4 December, 2021. The winning work and finalist works will be on exhibition at the gallery from 4 December 2021 to 30 January 2022.
Koori Mail Indigenous Art Award entries are open now at www.lismoregallery.org.
Please contact the Lismore Regional Gallery if assistance is needed with submissions
Telephone 6627 4600 or email [email protected]
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