More than $30,000 on offer for Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2018

Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2017 winner, Raquel Ormella, Worker's Blues #1, 2016, work uniforms, hi-vis fabric, cotton, 140 x 140cm. Sunshine Coast Art Collection.

Nationwide entries are now being sought for the Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2018 - one of the most prestigious regional 2D art prizes in Australia.

The Art Prize offers a major cash prize of $25,000 sponsored by Sunshine Coast Council.

Arts Portfolio Councillor Rick Baberowski said the Sunshine Coast Art Prize was the flagship contemporary art award for our healthy, smart, creative region.

“The Art Prize is an award with a growing national reputation and is highly respected by the arts industry, art collectors and the broader community,” Cr Baberowski said.

“Continued investment by council, combined with eminent judges and the valued sponsors, has seen the Sunshine Coast Art Prize grow to become one of the nation’s leading regional art awards.

“The quality of entries we received in 2017 culminated in one of the most outstanding finalist exhibitions we have seen in the Art Prize’s history and I very much look forward to seeing this year’s entries.”

Caloundra Regional Gallery curator Hamish Sawyer said the high-profile award was expected to attract entries from some of Australia’s best contemporary and emerging artists.

“The national profile of the award is continuing to grow, as was proven by the calibre of entries received from across the country last year,” Mr Sawyer said.

“Our 2018 judge, Director of The University of Queensland Art Museum Dr Campbell Gray, will have the enviable task of selecting a winner from what I’m sure will be an exceptional list of finalists.”

Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2018 finalists will be announced in May and will be showcased in an exhibition held at Caloundra Regional Gallery from August 16 to October 14.

The winning work will be acquired into the Sunshine Coast Art Collection.

Prize details

The Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2018 offers a prize pool of more than $30,000 in cash and prizes including:

• an acquisitive major prize of $25,000 cash;
• a non-acquisitive Highly Commended prize of $5000;
• a non-acquisitive People’s Choice prize of $2500;
• a Sunshine Coast Art Prize Residency sponsored by Caloundra Regional Gallery.

Judge

Dr Campbell Gray has been the Director of The University of Queensland Art Museum since March, 2011. He had previously worked for 14 years as Director, Brigham Young University Museum of Art in Utah, USA. Dr Gray holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Sussex and has many years’ experience working in the practical and academic domains of museums.

Dr Gray, in his tenure, has built on the relationships between UQ Art Museum and the academic activities of the University. His vision is to continue this work through touring exhibitions that showcase the work of innovative new artists, and to foster critical inquiry, enjoyment and appreciation of art.

Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2018 online entries are now open and will close at 5pm on Friday, April 6. Entry is open to any Australian resident.

For more details, including terms and conditions of entry, visit the Caloundra Regional Gallery website.

View a gallery of previous Sunshine Coast Art Prize winners on the gallery website.

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.

You can now follow Caloundra Regional Gallery on Facebook and Instagram @caloundraregionalgallery