The Australian War Memorial, the University of Canberra, The Road ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs encourage current and former Australian Defence Force personnel to enter the 2020 Napier Waller Art Prize, open from Monday 20 April.
The prize program, initiated in 2018, is the only one offered to current and former Defence personnel at a national level. It aims to promote artistic excellence, the transformative and healing power of creativity, and raises awareness of the experiences and talent of service personnel.
The winner will receive a $10,000 cash prize, and their entry will be displayed at the Australian War Memorial and accessioned into the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Collection. The winning artist will also receive a two-week research residency in the Art Section of the Memorial, while a prize of $5,000 will be awarded to the entry that wins People’s Choice.
Assistant Director, ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Collection at the Australian War Memorial Major General Brian Dawson (Ret’d) said the Napier Waller Art Prize, won in 2019 by Natalie Duncan with her emotive ceramic piece You are in danger and I am far away, continues to attract an exceptional field of work for judges to consider.
“These are challenging and uncertain times, however we believe art and creativity can play an important role in providing respite and fostering resilience during difficult times,” Major General Dawson said.
“The Napier Waller Art Prize provides a unique opportunity for our current and former service personnel to share their experiences and stories through a deeply personal and revealing medium. I urge all creative Australian servicemen and servicewomen, current and former serving, to consider entering their work.”
Entries open on Monday 20 April 2020 and close on Sunday 7 June 2020.
Entrants can submit any visual art medium including but not limited to: painting, photography, printmaking, drawing, sculpture, digital, decorative, and installation. Artworks may address any theme, with the winning artwork to be chosen by a panel of art experts and judges.
The Memorial continues to plan for an exhibition of highly commended works later in the year. An online exhibition of shortlisted entries will be featured on the Memorial’s website from 17 August 2020 to 20 September 2020.
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