Resounding success for the 2014 City of Hobart Art Prize

Attracting 55 foremost artists from all over Australia, the 2014 City of Hobart Art Prize has established itself as a prominent national art award. 

Now in its 26^th year, the prize is categorised in a medium-based format, but otherwise is without theme, enabling a diverse array of subject matter and concept.

With the incentive of a prize pool of $31 000, each section awards $15 000 to the winner. As a result the award has attracted strong competition and serves as a platform for Tasmanian artists to compete on a national scale.

Divided into two categories; first place was awarded to Tom Moore in the Glass category with his artwork Light Bulb Moment, whilst in the printmaking category artist Rew Hanks claimed first with Banks, which one’s mine?

Highly commended in the glass category went to Nadege Desgenetez and Nick Mount, and in print making to Tony Ameneiro and Milan Miljevic.

The juding panel this year included Gabriella Bisetto, Studio Head, Glass Workshop, Art, Architecture and Design, University of South Australia, Peter Hughes Senior Curator (Decorative Arts), Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery and Michael Kempson, Head of Printmaking, Director of Cicada Press at College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales

Lord Mayor Alderman Damon Thomas commented on this year’s medium-based format, stating, “After an absence for a number of years, Glass and Printmaking are the two mediums on offer. This return to the dual-media format follows last year’s open media for the special 25th Anniversary Award, where artists were encouraged to enter in all collectible media.”

The Chairman of the Creative Hobart Special Committee, Alderman Dr Peter Sexton drew attention to the role of the 2014 City of Hobart Art Prize, providing an inspiring snapshot of current ideas in glass and printmaking and underlining the endless possibilities of the mediums. “I congratulate all the finalists selected from the 260 entries.”

The exhibition is free to the public and open until 23 November. Visitors will be able to vote in the non-acquisitive People’s Choice Prize, which is a cash award of $1000 for the artist with the most popular work in the exhibition. A voter will win a $100 gift voucher courtesy of the City of Hobart following the close of the exhibition.

EXHIBITION
City of Hobart Art Prize 2014
The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
Until 23 November

Image 1: Tom Moore, Light Bulb Moment
Image 2: Rew Hanks, Banks, which one’s mine?
Courtesy the artists and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery