Hornsby Shire Council is excited to announce that entries are set to open for its popular national art competition, the Hornsby Art Prize, on Monday 5 June.
The well-recognised annual event promotes and celebrates Australian Contemporary Art. The 13thHornsby Art Prize is open to all visual artists living in Australia.
Artists are invited to submit works in the following categories: Painting, Drawing, Printmaking, Digital Art Stills and Sculpture. This year, the competition has an overall prize pool valued at $23,000, with the major prize worth $10,000.
Hornsby Mayor Philip Ruddock praised the Art Prize for its significant contribution to Hornsby Shire's cultural landscape.
"Council continues to support and promote arts and culture in Hornsby Shire. The Hornsby Art Prize provides our residents with a fantastic opportunity to experience contemporary art of the highest calibre first-hand in our own local area," Mayor Ruddock said.
"This is a chance for artists from across the country, as well as any local emerging talent to get involved. I encourage any artist who is considering entering to submit their artworks and be a part of this exciting event."
Canberra's Solomon Karmel-Shann took out top honours at last year's Hornsby Art Prize, with his winning painting, A Whispering Flag. Previous winners also include the likes of local resident Lyndall Beck, and Rew Hanks, a renowned Sydney-based printmaker.
There is no set theme in this competition, which provides artists with complete freedom to express their unique ideas and works from a blank canvas.
Entries are open until Tuesday 5 September and submissions are to be made online. Entry costs $40. All artworks must have been produced in the past two years, and not exhibited before.
The non-acquisitive prize, organised and sponsored by Hornsby Shire Council and delivered in partnership with the Hornsby Art Society, is open to all Australian residents aged 18 years and over.
While artists from across the nation can submit their works for the main prize; Hornsby Shire residents are able to nominate their work for the Hornsby Shire Local Artist Award.
The Hornsby Art Prize Finalists' Exhibition will be held at Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre from 19 October until 5 November. The exhibition is selected and adjudicated by an appointed panel of three judges.
