Entries are now open for the prestigious Redland Art Awards, a contemporary biennial painting competition presented by Redland Art Gallery and open to all Australian artists.
Redland Art Gallery director Stephanie Lindquist said the long-running competition featured four awards this year, with more than $20,000 in prize money on offer.
“With a thriving arts community and strong cultural appreciation, the Redlands has developed a reputation as a significant regional arts centre in Australia and these awards are highly regarded, drawing interest from distinguished artists nationwide,” she said.
“First held in 1981, the Redland Art Awards was established by a small group of local artists known as the Redland Yurara Art Society, which is among Queensland’s oldest art societies.
“In 2014, the awards attracted 250 entries from artists across the country, with 49 finalists featured in the exhibition and the major prize awarded to acclaimed Indigenous artist Margaret Loy Pula, for her geometric bush potato artwork Anatye.
Ms Lindquist said the awards accepted paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolour, pastel and mixed media, with the winning entry awarded an acquisitive first prize of $15,000.
“There is also $4000 for the runner-up, $2500 for the winner of the Local Environment Prize and $500 for the Meredith Foxton People’s Choice Award, which is sponsored by the Redland Yurara Art Society,” she said.
“Birkdale visual artist Anita West won the Peoples’ Choice Award in 2014, with Kevin Chin winning second prize for a four-panel artwork and Jun Chen winning the Local Environment Prize for his portrait of the Brisbane River.”
This year’s judges are Kyla McFarlane (Acting Curatorial Manager of Australian Art at the Queensland Art Gallery I Gallery of Modern Art), Judy Watson (internationally recognised Indigenous artist and winner of the 2015 Australia Council Visual Arts Award) and gallery directors Stephanie Lindquist and Emma Bain (Redland Art Gallery).
Entries for the Redland Art Awards close on Friday 12 August 2016, with the winners announced on 14 October and a free exhibition of short-listed works on show from Sunday 16 October to Sunday 27 November. Visit the Redland Art Awards website to download an entry form or contact Redland Art Gallery on (07) 3829 8484.
Presented by Redland Art Gallery, the Redland Art Awards are an initiative of the Redland City Council in conjunction with event sponsors Stark Creations and Redland Yurara Art Society.