Entries are now open for the $20,000 Blacktown City Art Prize, which celebrates its 25th year in 2020.
Artists across Australia are invited to submit artwork for the top award and three supporting awards – the Aboriginal Artist Prize, Local Artist Prize and the People’s Choice Prize.
There is no set theme for the prize and artwork can be in sculpture, painting, drawing, mixed media, photo-media, textiles, printmaking or ceramics.
Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM encouraged artists from across Australia, and especially those living locally, to enter.
“Now in its 25th year, the Blacktown City Art Prize is a major cultural event in Western Sydney,” Mayor Bleasdale said.
“We have some incredibly talented homegrown artists living in Blacktown City and it is always wonderful to see their work featured alongside pieces entered by artists from around our diverse and multicultural country.”
“The calibre of work submitted is always incredibly impressive and, while it’s been a challenging time for many, I’m sure it will be no different this year.”
“I look forward to viewing the finalists’ work on exhibition in our award-winning Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre.”
Entries close Tuesday 6 October 2020.
With a total prize pool of $20,000 on offer, the Blacktown City Art Prize will culminate in an exhibition of the finalists’ work at the Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre from Saturday 28 November 2020 until January 2021.
The top award at the 2019 Blacktown City Art Prize was taken out by Blacktown resident Jamie Eastwood for ‘Blacktown Native Institution 1823-2018 Then and Now’, a mixed media artwork made from acrylic paint, collage and paper ochre.
Prizes awarded:
Blacktown City Art Prize: $15,000
Aboriginal Artist Prize: $2,000
Local Artist Prize: $2,000
People’s Choice Prize: $1,000
The artwork awarded the Blacktown City Art Prize will be acquired for the Blacktown City Art Collection. All other artworks in the exhibition will be available to buy in person at the Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre or online via the Blacktown Arts website for the duration of the exhibition.
