Entries for this year’s Outback Archies are closing next week, with artists in Narrabri, Moree, Gunnedah, Tamworth and the Liverpool Plains and Gwydir council areas eligible to enter.
The Outback Archies Art Prize is an Outback Arts project, now in its thirteenth year. In this time the Outback Archies has grown in reputation each year, showcasing the diverse and talented creatives in the region, as they explore their own unique take on the theme ‘Legends and Landscapes’. Outback Arts, working in conjunction with regional and metropolitan project partners including Arts NorthWest, strive to support artists by providing opportunities to exhibit and showcase their work locally as well as in metro galleries by securing exhibition opportunities.
This popular exhibition and Art prize encourages artists to celebrate the colour, creativity and spirit of our rural and regional communities. The artworks included in this exhibition are presented in four major artwork categories, including Photography, Sculpture, Ceramics and Two Dimensional. There is also a Packing Room prize awarded by staff who unpack and install the exhibition, a People’s Choice award, as well as Open Curator and Young Curator awards. With thanks to the support of sponsors, a prize pool of $10,000 and the potential to exhibit in partner galleries is being offered.
The 2023 Art Prize will also encourage our creative youth in Regional New South Wales with the Young Outback Archies, featured in two categories, Primary School and High School. Youth entries may explore any medium of their choosing.
“The joy the Outback Archies brings to such an extended audience each year is remarkable, as is the quality and diversity of entries. Its success is a credit to our region’s artists that continue to inspire others to keep creating,” said Outback Arts, Executive Director, Jamie-Lea Trindall.
Artists from outback areas including Bourke, Brewarrina, Bogan, Cobar, Coonamble, Warren and Walgett were the original target for the Outback Archies. As part of a post-Covid re-emergence, this Art prize was expanded to include the Local Government areas of Narrabri, Moree, Gunnedah, Liverpool Plains, Gwydir and Tamworth.
New England artists have experienced great success in past exhibitions, with talented Tamworth Ceramics artist Kylie Lamph taking the top prize in the Ceramics category for two years running. In 2022, Lamph’s jug-shaped vessel ‘Parched’ took the gong, while in the previous year her work entitled ‘Historical Land Clearing’ was awarded the top prize.
Also in 2021, Gunnedah-based artist Maree Kelly was awarded second place in the two-dimensional category for her portrait entitled ‘Stories by lamplight’.
Entries for this exhibition close on Friday 18th August, with short-listed works being displayed in the Outback Arts Gallery, 26 Castlereagh Street, Coonamble from September 11th to 27th October. Many works will be available for purchase from the artist. Further information about the Outback Archies Art Prize can be found on the Outback Arts website https://www.outbackarts.com.au/about or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/outback.arts or the Arts NorthWest Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/artsnw