Huge prizes on offer in Indigenous Art Awards

Published on 20 November 2019

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The Maari Ma Indigenous Art Awards are on again, with double the prize money on offer to mark the Awards' tenth year.

The aim of the prize is to provide an opportunity to showcase and celebrate art works and creativity in the Far West by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

Artists residing in the areas of Broken Hill City Council, Central Darling Shire Council, Wentworth Shire Council and the Unincorporated Area are all eligible to enter.

Justin Files, Executive Manager of Community Services and Programs at Maari Ma Health, said the service was proud to again be involved in the burgeoning competition.

"Maari Ma health are really excited about doubling the prize money for our decade milestone," he said.

"We've sponsored the prize since its inception in 2010 after being approached by former Indigenous trainee of the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, Tina Weston.”

Council's Gallery and Museum Programs Officer, Blake Griffiths, said the $10,000 prize pool for winning artists was commensurate with the competition's growing status.

"The increased prize pool comes at a welcome time as the quality of works being entered into to the prize has been exponentially increasing year to year.”

The 2020 competition will include a $5,000 first prize, $2,000 second prize, $1,000 emerging artist award, and a $1,000 young artist award.

Mr Files said a new $1,00 prize, the Nhuungku Prize for Excellence, has also been introduced as an acknowledgement to indigenous grandmothers, mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, nieces, and granddaughters.

"We really wanted to show strong support for our women, they're the backbone of our community.”

Entries are open now, can be in any medium on any theme, and are due to the Regional Art Gallery by 18 February, 2020. Prize announcements are expected to be made on 28 February, 2020.

Entry forms are available from the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, or online here. Entrants can also contact Mr Griffiths on 08 8080 3441 to have a form delivered via post.

The Maari Ma Indigenous Art Awards are presented in collaboration with the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, Maari Ma Aboriginal Health Corporation, and West Darling Arts.