The inaugural Collie Art Prize has received a ‘great’ response from the community, according to Collie Art Gallery board member Don Clark.
Mr Clark said the response to the prize from the art community was exceeding the gallery’s expectations, with entries coming in from across the country every day.
“[Entries] are coming from all over Australia. In the main, about 55 per cent of entries are West Australian, from all across the state,” he said.
Mr Clark also said the gallery had received a wide range of entries from local South West artists.
“There are several entries from Collie artists. There’s also a lot from Bunbury, a lot from Busselton and a lot from Margaret River,” he said.
The prize has also attracted the attention of several well-known artists. Mr Clark said they had received entries from artists who had been finallists in big art competitions such as the Archibald and the Black Swan.
Mr Clark said once the entries closed, the finallists would be chosen by a panel of three “well-respected” judges at the Art Gallery of WA.
A different panel of judges will then select the winning pieces, with the announcement of the winners of the prize to be announced at the exhibition opening on March 2.
Mr Clark said the support of the community was integral to getting the prize up and running. The Rotary Club of Collie has supported the competition with two $5000 runner-up prizes, while a $1000 people’s choice award has been provided by Whispering Pines Bed and Breakfast.
