Burnie Print Prize 2021

Published on 17 March 2021

To be opened by Mayor Steve Kons at the Gallery on Friday 26 March, the exhibition and competition celebrates Burnie’s historical connection to paper‐making by supporting and showing the highest standards of printmaking in the Oceania region.

Burnie City Council Mayor Steve Kons said “The Burnie Print Prize is one of Australia’s richest and most prestigious printmaking awards with a major prize of $15,000. It began in 2007 and is held every second year. The winning work goes into our growing and specialist permanent art collection.

“The COVID pandemic has inspired and motivated artists across the country. Many of the entrants were locked down, and all had restricted movement. An unusually large number of entries have been narrowed down to 81 prints from all six states, the ACT and New Zealand. This is an exhibition that displays the skill and originality of an exacting art form.”

The Burnie Print Prize 2021 is co‐sponsored by the Friends of Burnie Regional Art Gallery.

The Friends’ President Eleanor Austin said, “The Friends of Burnie Regional Art Gallery are pleased to once again support the Burnie Print Prize. Seeing so many entries after such a strange and trying past twelve months, and acknowledging the quality of the entries, is knowing there will be a wonderful addition to a broadening collection of works on paper at the Burnie Regional Art Gallery.”

The exhibition will continue until Saturday 1 May. The Gallery is open free to the public from 10am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and Saturdays from 11am to 4pm, closed Sundays and public holidays. Visitors will be asked to sign in on entry for contact tracing and to comply with local, state and commonwealth regulations during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Burnie Regional Art Gallery is an initiative of Burnie City Council and is assisted through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for the Arts.