Launch of national Indigenous Art Prizes
Indigenous artists now have a new opportunity to artistically communicate the cultural and environmental value of wetlands and waterways to a national audience. WetlandCare Australia in partnership with the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the Queensland Wetlands Program is pleased to announce the launching of the inaugural Indigenous Art categories in the WetlandCare Australia National Art and Photography Competition 2012. There are 2 categories specifically open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists in the 2012 competition: Open, which is open to artists of all ages, and Youth, which is open to artists under 18. The competition details and entry forms will be available, and entries accepted, from the beginning of September. There will also be Open, Youth and Children’s categories in Art and Photography, open to all Australian residents.
This is the first time in its 5 year history that the competition will include categories specifically for Indigenous artists. The categories have been created in recognition of the valued place wetlands and waterways hold in Indigenous culture, and to provide Indigenous artists with an opportunity to communicate their messages on the cultural, environmental and contemporary meanings and values of wetlands and waterways to a national audience.
The categories will each have a first prize of $1,200, with second, third and merit prizes also being awarded. The winning artworks will go on display at the CSIRO Discovery Centre in Canberra for World Wetlands Day 2012 (February 2). They will also be displayed in an online gallery on the WetlandCare Australia website, and at exhibitions throughout New South Wales and Queensland.
WetlandCare Australia, with the Queensland Wetlands Program and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority will be utilising the winning artworks to promote their work and activities in managing, restoring, repairing and protecting wetlands. The artists will receive recognition by name and work title whenever their work is displayed or used. This provides a great opportunity for artists to have their work seen by a wide, national audience, and to participate in the effort to protect and restore our precious wetlands.
Competition coordinator Liz Hajenko says “Wetlands and waterways are such a vital and essential part of the landscape, and have a very important role in Indigenous culture so it’s fantastic to be able to launch categories specifically for Indigenous artists in the competition. I’m really looking forward to seeing all the entries.”
The competition will follow the same theme as World Wetlands Day 2012 of Wetlands, Tourism and Recreation. Ms Hajenko said of the theme “It can cover so many of the different ways we all engage with wetlands and waterways: everything from fishing, sharing time in nature with family and friends, bird watching to the benefits and challenges of tourism.”
The competition will be open for entries in September. For more information, contact Liz Hajenko at WetlandCare Australia on 02 6681 6169 www.wetlandcare.com.au
Picture: Abraham Dakgalawuy: Burarr (Water Monitor), 2nd Prize, Open Art, WetlandCare Australia National Art and Photography Competition 2010
