Over 640 National Entrants with 212 Finalists
Friday 5 August to Sunday 28 August
Today, 212 finalists from across Australia were announced by Northern Beaches Council Mayor Michael Regan for the prestigious annual Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize Exhibition which has a prize pool of over $40,000.
This year's exhibition brief was for artists and designers to reflect on our environment and respond to the crucial issues facing us and our climate. They were invited to create work that brings meaning and relevance to communities from across Australia.
Over 640 artists and designers from across Australia submitted their work across nine categories for competition in this non-acquisitive prize.
This year, works across categories encompassing a range of contemporary practices, from fashion and design to ceramics and small sculpture, painting and mixed media, photography, digital media, film and video, functional and wearable design and more will be on display.
All the finalists will have their works exhibited across three Northern Beaches venues from Friday 5 August to Sunday 28 August.
The Curatorial Team said "The 2022 Environmental Art & Design Prize finalists build on last year's strong inaugural exhibition with fresh perspectives on our global climate crisis and issues of living sustainability.
"This year's themes of fire and flood, decay and regeneration, and our planet's beauty are explored across all nine prize categories.
"The 212 exhibition works invite audiences to challenge perceptions of what is possible and participate in creating a better world."
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said he is thrilled to announce that this year our local Northern Beaches creatives are joined by finalists from all Australian states and territories for another inspiring exhibition.
"For its second year, the Environmental Art & Design Prize Exhibition brings together a dynamic community of artists, designers and audiences from across Australia who care deeply about our future on the planet. .
"The breadth of entries from all over the country clearly shows that our Environmental Art & Design Prize Exhibition is making an important contribution to the national conversation about how we can work collectively towards a better future for ourselves and our children."
Of the 212 finalists, there are 54 Young Artists and Designers across the age categories: 7-12 years and 13-18 years.
The esteemed external judging panel of leading creative practitioners and thinkers will assess the finalist works and award category prize winners. This year the panel includes Dr Michael Mossman, a Kuku Yalanji man and Lecturer, University of Sydney School of Architecture Design & Planning; Australian Artist, Janet Laurence; and Kit Willow a leading Australian luxury fashion designer.
Dr Mossman said: "Connecting with country is a really foundational quality of how I practice architecture and what I teach. That connection of people, their different expertise and skills is where we can bring critical mass to issues of environment."
Janet Laurence said: "Art is a wonderful way to bring the public's attention to climate change issues. Using data and information from scientists, artists can create compelling, new ways of sharing information and stories, which is absolutely necessary for people to really care and to be driven to act."
Kit Willow said: "I strongly believe in a better world, through the simple mantra of making women look and feel beautiful, without harming our planet, so everyone can win."
Prize winners will be announced on Friday 5 August at 6pm at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum by Dr Michael Mossman.
The People's Choice Awards will be announced on 27 August. The exhibition entry is free.
Venue information
West Esplanade Reserve, Manly
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am - 5pm
- Ceramics & small sculpture
- Film & video
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Wearable design
- Works on paper & photography
105 Abbott Road, Curl Curl
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am - 5pm
- 7 - 12 years
- 13 - 18 years
Village Park, 1 Park Street, Mona Vale
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am - 5pm
- Painting & mixed media
- Functional design
