Funding to Moree Portrait Prize to Encourage and Inspire Young Artists

Funding to Moree Portrait Prize to Encourage and Inspire Young Artists

Moree Plains Shire Council (Council) will provide financial assistance of $1,000 from its Public Donations to Moree Cultural Art Foundation, the governing body of the Bank Art Museum Moree (BAMM), to facilitate the 2019 Moree Portrait Prize.  

This will be the third year BAMM has hosted the Moree Portrait Prize and the overwhelming response from local artists, requests from locals and success of the competition in these previous years has highlighted the need to provide further categories in this year’s Moree Portrait Prize.  

The funding will be used to increase the number of categories and their associated cash prizes in the 2019 Moree Portrait Prize. 

“The Moree Portrait Prize provides local artists of all ages with a platform to exhibit their work and talents to the community in a professional manner,” said Mayor Katrina Humphries. 

“As a Council, we recognise our community members have a diverse range of recreational pursuits. If we can showcase our cricketing prowess within the picket fence at Ron Harborne Oval, it seems fitting that our more artistically gifted residents can enjoy having their works on display at BAMM. 

“I am particularly proud to be supporting categories which provide our youth with the opportunity to demonstrate their artistic talents. At our recent My Moree Photography Exhibition, we were overwhelmed by the volume and calibre of entrants in the Up and Coming talent category. 

“I believe Council is playing an important role in shaping the next generation of artists through providing funding to support the Under 8’s to Ages 16-18 prize pool.” 

The Moree Portrait Prize offers cash prizes in a range of categories including; Under 8’s, Ages 9-12, Ages 13-15, Ages 16-18, Local Artists, People’s Choice and the Grand Prize, with the funding provided by Council directly supporting the Under 8’s through to Ages 16-18 prize pool that includes eight awards.  

Interim Director of BAMM Kate Tuart has praised the funding stating “BAMM is hugely thankful for Council’s support of the Moree Portrait Prize categories.”  

“This prize money supports the growth of an annual community favourite of BAMM’s program and we can’t wait to see what local creatives will be entering in 2019 – especially those young budding artists who are looking to experiment and experience art in a rural town.  

“Entries have been extended until Friday 15 November with entry forms available at BAMM and on our website. For the first time, artists can also mark their artworks for sale!” 

Moree Portrait Prize will be on display at BAMM from 6 December 2019 to 18 January 2020. 

As is the case each calendar quarter, Council has funding available through its Public Donations process. Applications must be made in accordance with Council’s Public Donations Policy; a copy of which can be found on Council’s website. Applications for the next round of funding close at 5pm, Friday 21 December and will be considered by Council at its meeting in January 2020. 

Photo: Lucy Midgley, Local Prize Winner.