Sophie Conlon
Artists are encouraged to enter into the South East Art Society’s annual Open Art Awards and see their masterpieces on the walls of the Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre.
Committee member Laurie Dacy was excited for the exhibition and said there were a number of categories and 22 prizes up for grabs.
“We’ve got our prize up to $20,000 again thanks to Bendigo Bank chucking in a bit more, we’ve really got a long time on display for artists,” he said.
Last year the event had 98 entries and president Vicki Thorpe said the society was hoping to reach 150 entrants this year and build up to previous numbers.
Vice president and life member Julianne Woodruff said pre-Covid events had drawn in more than 300 entries and it would be great to get up to that many again.
“We went down a little bit over Covid, for our 50th exhibition we had 360 something, usually around 130 to 150, but due to everything else that has effected everyone we have gone down a bit in the last year and the year before, so we are hoping to come back bigger and better again,” she said.
Mr Dacey said almost any form of art would be accepted into the show.
“Painting, watercolours, acrylic, oils, photographs, statues, collages,” he said.
Ms Thorpe said even digital art and work made from recycled products could be entered.
“Pretty much anything, we will fit it into a category,” she said.
Any level or artist can enter and Ms Woodruff said this competition could be a great starting off point for young or emerging artists.
“The Art Society has hosted and had entries from such well known artists as Cathleen Edkins and Pieter Zaadstra, looking back through our history they all competed in these South East Art Society’s annual exhibitions,” she said.
“The Art Society has always said we are here to support artists of any description, at any point in their journey and we particularly like to encourage and foster people just beginning.”
Agreeing, Ms Thorpe said she was excited to see what entries they would receive.
“We’ve got some really, really exceptional emerging artists in the region so I am looking forward to seeing their work on display,” she said.
“Last years winner of the open art award, he was only a beginner, and he took out the winning entry with an artwork that looks very much in the style of Ben Quilty, who was a famous artist and unique in his own right.”
Entries for the Open Art Awards close on Friday, June 23, and entry information can be found on the South East Art Society website or Facebook page.
