Minister for the Arts, Heidi Victoria, this week called for entries to one of the state’s most prestigious visual art awards programs, the Victorian Indigenous Art Awards.
Ray Thomas’ winning portrait from VIAA 2013, ‘A Gunnai Elder – Mum Alice’
More than $50,000 in prizes are available through the Awards program which is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists at all career stages, working across all mediums. Applications from individuals or groups will be accepted.
“Now in their ninth year, the Victorian Indigenous Art Awards were established by Arts Victoria to celebrate and raise the profile of the Indigenous arts sector of South Eastern Australia, and to create commercial opportunities for Indigenous artists,” Ms Victoria says.
“The Awards continue to achieve both of these aims, offering award winners and finalists all sorts of outstanding opportunities: from the chance to exhibit internationally; to gaining gallery representation; or finding their works acquired by major galleries.”
Ms Victoria says the 2014 Awards – which are open to entries ranging from traditional crafts through to cutting edge contemporary works – will be hosted by the Art Gallery of Ballarat for the second time.
“The Art Gallery of Ballarat is Australia’s oldest and largest regional gallery, and has been acquiring Indigenous art for 80 years,” Ms Victoria said.
“Last year’s stunning exhibition was seen by over 16,000 people, and we’re proud to partner with the gallery again.”
The Director of the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Gordon Morrison, says that he was delighted to be able to present this exhibition and prize in 2014.
“We saw just how good this program is last year and I am hoping we can build on a strong base to represent the diversity and dynamism of Indigenous visual arts practice in Victoria, and to give a voice to the artists,” Mr Morrison says.
Entries are open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists who currently live, or were born, in Victoria. Entries close on Thursday 12 June, 2014. The Victorian Indigenous Art Awards is a Victorian Government program delivered through Arts Victoria and presented by the Art Gallery of Ballarat.
For more information and full entry details, visit www.indigenousartawards.com.au
Prize categories
• Deadly Art Award $30,000 Supported by: Arts Victoria
• CAL Victorian Indigenous Art Award for Three Dimensional Works $5,000 Sponsored by: Copyright Agency Limited, Cultural Fund
• CAL Victorian Indigenous Art Award for Works on Paper $5,000 Sponsored by: Copyright Agency Limited, Cultural Fund
• Australian Catholic University Acquisitive Award $5,000 Work based on spirituality and cultural tradition. Sponsored by: Australian Catholic University
• Federation University Australia Acquisitive Award $5,000 Work by an artist based in regional Victoria. Sponsored by: Federation University Australia
• Arts Victoria People’s Choice Award $2,500 Supported by: Arts Victoria.
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