Entries now open for Local Artists – Local Content and Holmes Art Prize

Entries are now open for two art prizes that will be showcased at Caloundra Regional Gallery in 2017.

Local artists and those who specialise in realistic Australian bird art can now submit their entries for the Local Artists - Local Content and Holmes art prizes.

Now in its fourth year, the popular Local Artists - Local Content Art Prize is open to any artist living on the Sunshine Coast and the content of the artist’s work must be related to the Sunshine Coast.

Arts Portfolio Councillor Rick Baberowski said the Local Artists - Local Content Art Prize was an important showcase for local talent and an increasingly significant exhibition on the Sunshine Coast’s arts calendar.

“The Friends of the Regional Gallery Caloundra have done a fantastic job working with the gallery staff to create this art prize specifically for our local artists,” Cr Baberowski said.

“What’s most important, is that that the art prize and finalist exhibition encourages local artists to produce new works, and this can be an important step in developing an artist’s body of work and reputation.”

Friends of the Caloundra Regional Gallery president Marie Piggott said they were thrilled to work with Caloundra Regional Gallery in presenting this popular exhibition.

“The Local Artists - Local Content art prize gives our talented artists an opportunity to showcase their skills in a regional gallery, to be recognised by the Sunshine Coast community and to achieve a possible sale of their work,” Ms Pigott said.

“This year, thanks to support from our wonderful sponsors, we have been are able to increase the individual prizes from $1000 to $1500 each for Best Oil or Acrylic, Best Watercolour, Best Mixed/Other Medium and Best Three-Dimensional.

“The Best of Show winner will receive $3000 thanks to Mary Henzell.”

Entries close on June 30 and the winners will be announced at the gala exhibition opening on October 6 at Caloundra Regional Gallery.

Also open for entries is the Holmes Acquisitive Art Prize for Excellence in Realistic Australian Birdlife, the only bird art prize in Australia.

Entry is open to any Australian resident.

“The Holmes Art Prize was an amazing success last year and promises to be even better and bigger this year,” Ms Pigott said.

Dr Gary Holmes, founder of the art prize, has increased the prizes in 2017 to $15,000 for first prize and added four additional prizes for excellence of $1000 each.

A Junior Realistic Australian Bird Art Prize of $500 has been added this year for secondary students to be judged by one of Australia's leading and most celebrated bird painters, Greg Postle.

The junior prize winner will be a part of the exhibition of the 40 finalists to be held at Caloundra Regional Gallery from November 8.

Entries for the Holmes Art Prize close on June 30.

Local Artists-Local Content is sponsored by Mary Henzell Investments, Stuart and Kylie Border from Local Agents Caloundra, Geoff Lyons, Solicitor and Member for Caloundra Mark McArdle.

For more information on the art prizes, including terms and conditions of entry, visit the gallery website - https://gallery.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

You can also follow Caloundra Regional Gallery on Facebook and Instagram.

Owned and operated by Sunshine Coast Council, Caloundra Regional Gallery is located at 22 Omrah Avenue and is open Tuesday to Friday 10am - 4pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am - 2pm.

Image credit: Local Artists, Local Content, Best of Show Prize, Gabi Timm, Beach Rocks (detail), 2016, oils, pigments on etched aluminium, 50 x 101cm. Image courtesy of the artist.