Youth art prize entries open

If you’re a budding young East Gippsland artist your time is now!

Entries have opened for the annual East Gippsland Youth Art Prize, which will provide a platform for aspiring and emerging young creatives, aged 12 to 25 years, to showcase their talent. And better still, cash prizes are up for grabs, with the winner to receive $300. Cash prizes will also be awarded to the runners up.

Entries close September 27, with the launch of the East Gippsland Youth Art Prize exhibition and announcement of winners on October 16 (Forge Theatre and Arts Hub, 4.30pm). The exhibition will run until October 30. A selection of works will also tour Orbost at Council’s Customer Service Centre (November 12-15) and the Lakes Entrance Visitor Information Centre (November 19 to December 6).

Mayor Cr Natalie O’Connell encouraged local youth to consider entering.

“Exposure to the arts can help youth develop many positive skills and capacities that are valued by leaders and employers, such as creative thinking, problem solving, motivation, and academic performance, while most importantly boosting a young person’s confidence,” Cr O’Connell said.

“The art prize and exhibitions give young people and opportunity to showcase themselves and their work to the wider community. All entrants will have their work hung and I look forward to seeing what is entered.”

Last year’s winner, Lauren Hickey at first shrugged off the idea of entering.

“A few days later, I sat down at my desk with a pristine set of pencils that were then recently gifted to me, and began to draw,” Lauren said.

“By the time I had finished my piece (portrait titled The Artist’s Smile), I was a little surprised with the overall result. Even though I was happy with my work, it still hadn’t occurred to me that I possibly had some potential in the field, so I shyly attended the opening event and awards presentation. To my utter shock and disbelief, I walked away $300 richer, with my own exhibition to plan, and all as the winner of the 2018 Youth Art Prize.”

Lauren said that success sparked some internal recognition within herself and from that point on has continued to draw and develop her portraiture. She went on to win East Gippsland Art Gallery 2018 WRAP prize, and has completed various commissions and sold some artwork since.

The prize is open to all people aged 12-25 who live, study or work in East Gippsland. Artists are free to choose their genre or medium, and entry is free. Entries must be original works and there is a limit of one entry per artist. Entry forms are available here.

The East Gippsland Youth Art Prize is supported by Council and its youth ambassadors and FReeZA.

PICTURED ABOVE: Some of the 2018 Youth Art Prize award recipients.