Emerging and established artists living in regional and remote Queensland are invited to send in their entries by 23 July to win a share of up to $42,000 worth of prizes in this year’s Queensland Regional Art Awards (QRAA).
After a year of austerity and restrictions during the nation’s recent challenges, Flying Arts encourages artists and creatives to evoke the spirit of celebration and all things jubilant and to consider how society might interpret celebration through the theme ‘Paint the Town.’
This year’s competition includes three exciting new prize categories for photography, landscape and First Nations Art, and added value for the major prize.
All eligible entries will go in the running for the major prize valued at over $20,000, including a $10,000 non-acquisitive cash prize thanks to Holding Redlich, and a professionally written catalogue essay thanks to Onespace and artwords, and print and digital promotions in premier arts publication, Artist Profile.
Tanks Art Centre Curator Chris Stannard, a judge of the 2021 QRAA, said he is looking forward to choosing the winning selection as a reflection of the diverse artists across Queensland.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing what visual artists in Regional Queensland have been doing over the last year. There was nothing normal about 2020 and I expect there will be nothing normal about the entries in this year’s competition. Things have changed. And when things change, our artists show it in their work,” Chris said.
“In every town in Queensland, there is something unique to reflect through art. I know, because I’ve been to so many and have visual memories of everything from landscapes west of Mt. Isa to leaves fallen from the Tree of Knowledge in Barcaldine. The theme ‘Paint the Town’ also means extreme socialising, which I’m in favour of.”
Flying Arts Alliance CEO Kerryanne Farrer says the Queensland Regional Art Awards is an important springboard for artists’ careers.
“The Queensland Regional Art Awards is an accessible platform for all regional Queensland artists, whether new to their arts practice or later in their career, to be recognised on a state-wide level,” Kerryanne said.
“From October this year Flying Arts is excited to celebrate our 50th year anniversary, so we hope the theme ‘Paint the Town’ will encourage artists to reflect on their own modes of celebration, whether serene or riotous, filled with ritual or tradition, or moments of reflection.”
The QRAA is an annual visual arts prize and exhibition for established and emerging artists living in regional and remote Queensland. The program aims to provide a platform for further professional development.
The 2021 QRAA coincides with Flying Arts’ 50th year anniversary, half a century of connecting artists, educators, and communities.
Early bird entries are now open until 28 June, with final entries closing 23 July.
For further details about entry into the Queensland Regional Art Awards visit, https://flyingarts.org.au/queensland-regional-art-awards-2021/
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For media enquiries, or to arrange an interview with Ms Farrer, please contact:
Odette Miller
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Flying Arts Alliance
comms@flyingarts.org.au
07 3216 1322
About Flying Arts Alliance
Flying Arts is an arts and cultural development organisation which has been delivering visual arts projects and services to regional and remote Queensland since 1971. The Association has played a significant role in inspiring artists and communities, as well as helping to overcome the impacts of regional isolation and remote living.
Flying Arts Alliance is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
Flying Arts Alliance acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and seas on which we work, live and create. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
