Call for entries: R & M McGivern Art Prize 2019

Artists local to Maroondah and across Australia are invited to submit their original artwork, in the medium of painting, for consideration as part of the prestigious R & M McGivern Prize for 2019, valued at $25,000.

The R&M McGivern acquisitive prize is awarded every three years for an outstanding artwork in the medium of painting (oil, gouache, acrylic or watercolour).

This year’s theme of ‘Anthropocene’ asks artists to consider the impact of human habitation on the environment.

Councillor Mike Symon, the Chair of Council’s Arts Advisory Committee, said that since its establishment in 2003, the art prize’s winning paintings had become valued additions to the Maroondah City Council Art Collection.

“The art prize is an acquisitive art competition offering $25,000 in prize money for the winning entry, which then becomes part of the City’s art collection – a significant public collection comprising over 400 works of art,” he said.

The prestigious art prize was established at the bequest of the late Muriel Evelyn McGivern as a legacy to her support of the arts in Maroondah.

“For the past 13 years, the R&M McGivern Prize has helped to build our City’s art collection into something truly outstanding, and we are grateful to the legacy and generosity of the late Muriel McGivern for her support of the arts in Maroondah in this way,” Cr Symon said.

“Muriel McGivern lived her entire life in Maroondah and is fondly remembered for her colourful writings, paintings of the Australian landscape, and dedicated local history publications. Muriel is also noted as the founder of the Croydon Historical Society and Museum in 1963,” he added.

The most recent R & M McGivern Prize was awarded in 2016 to Rose Nolan for her work Big Words - QUOTE/UNQUOTE (double version), inspired by Russian Constructivism, architecture and language. The work, an acrylic painting on concertina cardboard, blurs the boundaries between painting, sculpture and architecture.

“Rose Nolan has exhibited nationally and internationally and is a significant figure in contemporary Australian art, and we are fortunate to have her winning piece as part of our collection, which also includes works by Indigenous artists and a growing selection of contemporary painters,” Cr Symon added.

An expert selection panel will pre-select the finalists, whose paintings will be exhibited at ArtSpace at Realm and Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery, from 23 November 2019 to 2 February 2020. The winner will be announced at the exhibition’s opening on Friday 29 November.

This year’s esteemed selection panel consists of the Director of the Monash University of Museum of Art, Charlotte Day; Director of Buxton Contemporary, Ryan Johnston; and Bunjil Place Gallery Curator, Penny Dale.

Visitors to the exhibition will also have the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice Award, valued at $1000, with the winner to be announced on Friday 31 January 2020.

Entries close at 5pm on Friday 28 June.