Western Australian Premier's
Indigenous Art Awards 2008
Nominations are now closed for the inaugural
Western Australian Premier's Indigenous Art Awards.
Nominations can be made online, via email or sent to the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
Nominations close: 21 July 2008 CLOSED
Awards exhibition: 1 November 2008 - 11 January 2009
Introduction
The inaugural Western Australian Premier's Indigenous Art Awards was launched on 11 June 2008 by the Premier of Western Australia, the Hon Alan Carpenter MLA.
The Western Australian Premier's Indigenous Art Awards is a newly established national art award to celebrate the diversity and richness of Indigenous art from across the country, as well as acknowledge the significant contribution Indigenous artists have made to Australian art and culture.
The Western Australian Premier's Indigenous Art Awards at the Art Gallery of Western Australia is part of the 'Ignite!' package, the biggest single State Government arts funding injection designed to transform the visual arts, literature, dance, theatre and music in Western Australia.
Presented annually, the Awards are set to become a premiere event in the national Indigenous arts calendar. The main award of $50,000 is the most generous of Indigenous art awards in Australia.
The Awards
Along with awards totalling $65,000, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists will be invited to showcase their art in the inaugural Awards exhibition at the Art Gallery of Western Australia, 1 November 2008.
Three non-acquisitive awards will be gifted as part of the Western Australian Premier's Indigenous Art Awards:
-Western Australian Premier's Indigenous Art Awards of $50,000
-Ignite: The Western Australian Indigenous Artist Award of $10,000
-People's Choice Award of $5,000
The Western Australian Premier's Indigenous Art Award of $50,000 will be awarded to the artist whose work is considered to be the most outstanding body of work in the Awards exhibition.
Ignite: The Western Australian Premier's Indigenous Art Award of $10,000 will be selected from all nominated Western Australian artists to acknowledge the significance of their work in WA.
The People's Choice Award of $5,000 will be awarded to the artist who receives the highest number of visitor votes.
How To Enter
Participation in the Western Australian Premier's Indigenous Art Awards starts with recognition from within the Indigenous arts community.
An artist must be nominated for the Awards by a person or organisation that is actively involved in the development, exhibition, collection or promotion of Indigenous art.
Nominations will be accepted from:
-An Indigenous artist's principal or nominated dealer
-Indigenous art centre
-Indigenous artists cooperative
-Commercial gallery that has a focus on Indigenous art and is a member of an incorporated gallery association
-National, state and regional art galleries and museums
-Curators representing significant private, tertiary, and corporate art collections
Indigenous artists working in any theme or media including paintings on bark, canvas and paper, prints, sculpture, fibre art, ceramics, glass, photography, and digital media can be nominated.
Nominated artists must be of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, 18 years or older, and currently living in Australia.
Nominated artists must have works available for the Awards exhibition that have been created no earlier than 1 July 2006.
Nomination Forms
The nomination form and guidelines can be downloaded from here
Due to technical problems the nomination form cannot be filled out online.
To submit your form please download the PDF and print it off before either mailing or faxing the completed nomination form. Images submitted along with the nomination form can still be emailed.
If you are experiencing difficulties please do not hesitate in contacting the Awards Coordinator on the number below.
For more details or to request a nomination form contact:
The Awards Coordinator
Art Gallery of Western Australia
Perth Culture Centre
Perth WA 6000
Phone: 08 9492 6636
Fax: 08 9492 6655
Email: IndigenousArtAward@artgallery.wa.gov.au
Click here for GMO Media Release link
