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A total of 60 finalists have been selected for the inaugural Wollumbin Art Award.
The finalists were selected from an incredible 473 entries and their work will be on display at Tweed Regional Gallery from Friday 30 September 2022.
The pre-selection panel members – curator and editor of VAULT magazine Alison Kubler; Indigenous art officer Arts Northern Rivers Kylie Caldwell; respected local Elder Aunty Joyce Summers; the gallery’s exhibitions curator Sarah Wallace; and gallery director Susi Muddiman OAM – reviewed all 473 entries numerous times before making their final selection.
“I know I speak on behalf of the entire pre-selection panel when I say how genuinely impressed we were with the calibre of entries for this new award. It’s a reflection of the quality and diversity of artistic practice in the region,” Ms Muddiman said.
Aunty Joyce Summers agreed: “All entrants were exceptional. I enjoyed the experience of being involved.”
Finalists are vying for a $15,000 first prize to be announced at the awards night on Saturday 1 October from 5 pm.
In addition to the first prize, the $10,000 First Nations Bundjalung Award sponsored by the Tweed Regional Gallery Foundation Ltd, and the $5,000 Emerging Artist Award supported by Leanne and Greg Tong-Lyon will also be announced.
WAA 2022 guest judge Alison Kubler will have the difficult task of awarding prizes across the 3 categories. Ms Kubler will visit the Tweed Regional Gallery to view all artworks installed in the exhibition prior to the award announcements.
Winners for the Wollumbin Youth Art Award (WYAA) will also be announced on the night.
“Holding both the WAA and the WYAA celebrations on the same night is an opportunity to have the young artists of the region meet and share the limelight with emerging and established artists,” gallery education and audience development officer Claire Conroy said.
Claire is currently establishing a youth collective at the Gallery.
WYAA 2022 guest judge, artist Hiromi Tango, will also visit the gallery prior to the award announcement to view the 45 young finalists’ artworks as she makes her final decisions.
The WAA exhibition will highlight the breadth and depth of artistic practice in the region with photographers, printmakers, painters, textile artists, ceramicists and film makers all represented in the exhibition, including works from well-established artists on display alongside emerging artists.
All 60 WAA finalists will be on display at Tweed Regional Gallery from Friday 30 September to Sunday 20 November. The WYAA finalists will be on display at the gallery from Friday 23 September to Sunday 27 November.
The award announcements will be livestreamed on the gallery’s Instagram channel on Saturday 1 October from 5:45 pm.
For a full list of WAA finalists, visit: gallery.tweed.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/prizes-awards/wollumbin-art-award.
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