Entries for the inaugural Collie Art Prize closed on Friday, January 12 with the Collie Art Gallery receiving over 500 entries.
Collie Art Gallery Don Clark said the interest in the competition surpassed the gallery’s expectations.
“The response to this inaugural event has exceeded expectations with hundreds of entries from all states and territories of Australia,” he said.
“The interpretation of the theme of ‘Identity’ has been very broad with a huge variety of art, media, artistic treatment and dimension.”
Mr Clark said running the prize was a big achievement for the gallery.
“The organisation of the Collie Art Prize has been a huge undertaking for a gallery which has been open less than three years,” he said.
“The spectacular result could only have been achieved with a great effort by many people and organisations, not least our one and only employee, Gallery Coordinator Payam Parishanzadeh and volunteers.”
Now that the entries have closed, the finallists will be selected by a panel of experienced art judges, made up of Carl Altman, Connie Petrillo and Mark Parfitt, at the Art Gallery of WA.
The finallists will then be judged by Art Gallery of WA director and CEO Dr Stephano Carboni, Artist’s Chronicle publisher Lyn Di Ciero and City of Bunbury collection curator Caroline Lunel.
The winners of the prizes will then be announced at the exhibition’s opening night on Friday, March 2.
“Becoming a winner or even a finalist in a big prize competition like the Collie Art Prize can make a huge difference to the career of any artist, in gaining attention from art buyers and galleries which may offer to show work,” Mr Clark said.
“We wish everyone well who has taken the time and very personal effort to put their work out there and enter the Collie Art Prize.”
The response to this inaugural event has exceeded expectations with hundreds of entries from all states and territories of Australia.
- Collie Art Gallery board member Don Clark
Mr Clark said the prize would not have been achievable without the support of local businesses within the community, particularly those who contributed prize money for the competition.
“The prize is one of the largest individual acquisitive art prizes offered in regional Australia, which has only been made possible by the generosity of the small mining town’s local Bendigo Bank which is stumping up the $50,000 first prize,” he said.
“Meanwhile, the good people of the Collie Rotary Club voted in favour of offering two $5000 prizes with a $1000 people’s choice award being offered by Collie bed and breakfast Whispering Pines.”
