Local artists are set to be the big winners following a partnership agreement between Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council and Bendigo Bank's Braidwood and Bungendore branches this week.
The sponsorship from Bendigo Bank for the 2021 QPRC Art Awards will see total prizemoney for the local art awards increase fourfold, with $12,000 to be offered in prizes.
Richard Elliot, representing Bendigo Bank's Management Board, said that the Braidwood and Bungendore Community Bank branches look forward to supporting the 2021 awards.
"The bank recognises the effects that the past few years have had on the arts community and feels this funding will assist our local artists," Mr Elliot said.
Fellow bank director Di Izzard is proud to continue support of the local community through the sponsorship.
"This agreement strengthens the relationship between Bendigo Bank and QPRC and assists both of us in our efforts to support the arts community of our local region," said Ms Izzard
This year's art awards will offer a major prize of $5,000 – a significant increase from the $2,000 offered when the awards were last held in 2019. The enhanced awards also include a wider range of categories including: Youth Emerging Artist Award for 18-25 years olds ($2,000); Small Sculpture Prize ($2,000). Ceramics Award ($1,000); the Bendigo Pick Prize ($1,000); and a Viewer's Choice Award ($1,000).
Entries will be judged by a respected panel of independent arts professionals from the region who will be announced in the coming weeks. The judging panel are expected to face a tough challenge considering the wealth of talent in our region.
This year's major award is also an 'acquisitive award', meaning the winning artwork will be acquired by Council and will join the QPRC art collection. To further support the local arts community the usual 25% commission charged on art sales through the art awards exhibition has been waived for this year.
The QPRC 2021 Art Awards and Exhibition will in The Q Exhibition Space in Queanbeyan with the official opening and awards ceremony taking place on Thursday 27 May. The exhibition will be open to the public from 28 May to 19 June.
Key dates, entry forms and terms and conditions will be available on the QPRC website and from QPRC libraries from 15 March. This is the first year that artists will be able to register their entries online in advance of the awards. Artists are encouraged to do so in the event of an oversubscription for the exhibition.
Artists requiring further information can email the QPRC Culture and Arts team at [email protected]
