New competition draws artists to Logan
An upcoming arts competition will storm the gates of the art world by giving every entrant a seat on the judging panel.
In an Australian first, participating artists – instead of a select group of judges – will be empowered to decide what constitutes ‘good art’ through an anonymous peer voting system.
The Australian Artists Awards – proudly sponsored by Council with Mayoress Alison Liddell as Patron – is now open to all Australians aged 18 and above. The total prize pool is $7,000.
Event organiser and South East Queensland Arts Collective member Jamie Brown says the goal is to support the expanding arts scene in Logan.
‘We need recognition and funding to get our own gallery and studio space, run workshops and mentoring programs for new and emerging artists,’ Jamie says.
‘The Australian Artists Awards was conceived as a way of achieving these goals.’
Jamie, a Browns Plains-based artist and tutor who grew up surrounded by art, hopes the competition will break barriers and encourage more people to engage in artistic endeavours.
‘Art is extremely important. It is a great social leveller,’ he says.
‘It does not matter from where on the social spectrum you come from, you are an artist and your art is valued – it’s a great emotional and psychological healer.
‘The competition is designed to support emerging artists, many of whom do not feel qualified to participate in events like this.
‘The potential is enormous – it could revitalise the art scene in Australia.’
Each entrant will have the opportunity to create an online artist profile and sell their artwork through the website.
To give artists creative freedom in an industry often fraught with social bias, Jamie made the calculated decision of incorporating a peer voting system.
‘The assumption is that art academics or notable artists have a better appreciation of what good art is than other people, but that is no guarantee,’ Jamie says.
‘People have been debating what “good art” is through the ages. We feel that should be decided by the art community of the day, and not by judges and academics who probably reflect the state of art when they went through college.’
The Able Gallery in Loganlea will display the works of 50 finalists from 19 September.
‘Having the finalists’ exhibition in Logan will help get our city on the cultural map,’ Jamie says.
‘Logan, like everywhere else, has a diverse range of talent and I am always astonished by the quality I see.
‘We hope the Australian Artists Awards will become a major event in the Australian art calendar, as there is no such art competition categorically aimed at emerging artists, of which there are many thousands.’
For more information on how to enter, visit The Arts Collective website.
