$25,000 national art prize launches in Lake Mac
A new $25,000 national art prize is set to nurture art and culture while adding works by leading Australian artists to Lake Macquarie’s Cultural Collection.
Lake Macquarie City Council Manager Arts, Culture and Tourism Jacqui Hemsley said the Lake Art Prize, launched today, would be a biennial competition open to artists aged 18 and over.
"This is an acquisitive art prize, so the winning artist will have their work purchased by Council, up to the value of $25,000,” Ms Hemsley said.
“If the work is valued at less than $25,000, we will look to purchase other outstanding entries in the competition.
”This year’s theme is ‘Where There Is Water’. Museum of Art and Culture Director Debbie Abraham said judges would be looking for works that reflected that theme, either directly or in more conceptual ways.
“With MAC situated on the lake foreshore, it’s perhaps not surprising that water is an ongoing theme in our exhibition programming and collection development,” Ms Abraham said.
“In working with the theme, we want artists to not only embrace notions of location, but to explore water as a metaphor or narrative.
"Artists working across all mediums, including sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, installation and sound, are eligible for the prize.
“This is a fantastic way to not only encourage and celebrate art, but to grow our City’s Cultural Collection," Ms Abraham said.
The Museum of Art and Culture will host an exhibition of all Lake Mac Art Prize finalists, opening on 12 December.
Works on display will also be for sale to the public, with a $2000 People’s Choice Award for the most popular artist up for grabs.
Artworks entered in the competition must have been completed in the 12 months from 23 October 2019 to the entry closing date on Friday 23 October this year.
Go to mac.lakemac.com.au/lakeartprize for more information.
