Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture
The annual Portrait of a Senior Territorian Art Award will be held in Alice Springs at the Araluen Arts Centre for the second time in its history.
Opening on 27 November 2020 and continuing until Sunday 7 March 2021, the exhibition is an important event that celebrates and acknowledges the contribution senior Territorians make. Established in the Year of the Older Person (1999), the award reflects the vitality of older people and the art of portrait painting in the Northern Territory.
The Araluen Arts Centre is now accepting entries for the 2020 Portrait of a Senior Territorian Art Award. Northern Territory artists are invited to enter a painted portrait of a Territorian aged 60 years or older. Finalists will be judged by an expert panel who consider the artistic and emotional qualities of the portrait.
The Northern Territory Government has committed $30,000 towards the Portrait of a Senior Territorian Art Award, including a $7,000 first prize which will be awarded to the winning original portrait.
“We are encouraging all Territory artists 17 years and over to create a portrait celebrating senior Territorians. Entries can be submitted online at ” Araluen’s Director Felicity Green said.
“There is a $2,000 prize for second prize and a $500 prize for third prize.
“The public can also vote for the People’s Choice Prize that will award an additional $1,000 to the artist who receives the highest number of votes from the public during the exhibition in Alice Springs.”
What makes a great portrait? Dr Al Strangeways, winner of the 2018 Portrait of a Senior Territorian Art Award, says as she paints she considers this question: How do people express who they are and what they are a part of through the landscapes of their faces and bodily gesture?
The 2019 Portrait of a Senior Territorian award was won by Catherine Miles for her portrait Paul and Elma. Her painting celebrates the tireless efforts of Paul Patteson and his assistance dog, Elma, in raising funds for Retina Australia.
The 2020 Portrait of a Senior Territorian Art Award exhibition will open at the Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs on Friday 27 November and run across summer until 7 March 2021. The deadline for entry forms is Friday 23 October.
