Nillumbik Shire Council has announced the finalists in the prestigious Nillumbik Prize for Contemporary Art 2021.
The biennial acquisitive art prize is open to emerging and established artists working in any medium across Australia.
A total of 323 entries responding to the theme 'Return' were received, with 41 artworks shortlisted by an independent panel. Of these, nine are local artists. The full list of finalists can be viewed at our website.
The prize is presented in association with Montsalvat and the Finalist Exhibition will be held at the Barn Gallery from Thursday 6 May to Thursday 1 July 2021.
The winner of the Open Prize ($20,000 acquisitive), Local Prize ($10,000 acquisitive) and Mayor's Award ($500) will be announced on the opening evening.
The People's Choice Award will be announced on 15 July 2021.
Nillumbik Mayor Peter Perkins said the prize, established in 2003, continued the Shire's strong reputation in the arts and built on the Nillumbik Shire Art Collection.
"The theme of Return is very relevant after the year we've all had, and I'm looking forward to seeing the response from our artistic community," Cr Perkins said.
The artworks were shortlisted by Francis E. Parker, Curator - Exhibitions, Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA), Jade Bitar, Visual Arts Officer, City of Stonnington, and Helen Walpole, Independent Art and Museum Curator.
The winners will be selected by a separate panel including Annika Kristensen, Senior Curator, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA), Georgia Cribb, Director, Bunjil Place Gallery, and Victoria Lynn, Director, Tarrawarra Museum of Art.
