REGIONAL ART PRIZES
ART PRIZES CAN PROVIDE MANY benefits to regional art galleries, ranging from increased local engagement and publicity through to growing collections, and around Australia today many regional galleries are offering an attractive array of prizes.
The winner of a regional art award is always pleased, and so are the sponsors, and usually the board (and often the director of the gallery, if the award is in a regional gallery). These days controversy is understood to sell, so if the judges choose unexpectedly it’s not all bad. And usually there’s also a ‘people’s choice’ award, and often one for an artist from the region, so locals and visitors can feel involved. But the question arises: what makes an art award different from other arts events in regions and regional galleries?
Art practitioners and enthusiasts outside the metropolis have particular challenges. Regional galleries are tourist attractions, places of scholarship, community assets, educational resources, and the focus of regional pride and prejudice.
