- Published:
- Wednesday 1 April 2015
Aboriginal artists across the state are invited to be part of the 10th anniversary of the Victorian Indigenous Art Awards.
Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley, today called for entries to the awards, which have grown from strength to strength since being established by the Victorian Government in 2005.
The Victorian Indigenous Art Awards Program, hosted in partnership with the Art Gallery of Ballarat, features more than $40,000 in prizes, including the $30,000 Deadly Art Award, supported by Creative Victoria. Other award categories include $5,000 awards supported by Federation University and the Australian Catholic University.
The awards aim to celebrate and promote Victoria’s Aboriginal visual arts sector and create commercial opportunities for Aboriginal artists.
Winners and finalists over the last decade include acclaimed and internationally recognised artists Bindi Cole and Reko Rennie, who were named winners in 2008. More than 280 artworks have been exhibited, making the awards a high-profile platform for artists.
Entries to the Victorian Indigenous Art Awards are open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual artists at all career stages, across all mediums. Artists must either be Victorian-born or current residents of Victoria and be aged 18 or over. Entries close on Tuesday, 9 June, 2015.
An exhibition of finalist works will open at the Art Gallery of Ballarat on Saturday, 8 August, 2015, before International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on Sunday, 9 August. For more information visit www.indigenousartawards.com.au
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley
“These awards celebrate the world’s oldest continuing culture, showcasing south-eastern Aboriginal art ranging from intricate traditional works to dynamic contemporary pieces.”
“The awards recognise and publicise the gifts of individual Aboriginal artists and strengthen the links between Victoria’s vibrant cultural communities.”
Quotes attributable to Art Gallery of Ballarat Director, Gordon Morrison
“This partnership between the Gallery and Creative Victoria has enabled us to build relationships with a range of Aboriginal artists, which will lead to further projects and partnerships in the future.”
“It has provided the Gallery with an opportunity to interact with Aboriginal communities in a very meaningful way and to show our visitors the extraordinary diversity of arts practice among Victoria’s Aboriginal artists.”