Seventy young artists from across regional New South Wales have been selected as finalists in this year’s University of New England School’s Acquisitive Art Prize (UNESAP), with their works to be exhibited at the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM).
Held annually, the prize celebrates and encourages emerging artistic talent among kindergarten to Year 12 students from regional NSW, giving them the opportunity to exhibit their work in a professional gallery setting.
This year’s finalists, aged from five to 18, were chosen from more than 700 entries submitted by students from 65 schools. Works are judged across infants, primary, junior secondary and senior secondary categories.
Local artist Rowan Matthews and NERAM director Rachael Parsons will judge the finalists, with category winners to be announced at the exhibition opening on Friday, 24 July.
Ten students will receive prizes, with the four overall category-winning artworks to be acquired for the University of New England art collection.
“As always, it is inspiring to see the immense creative talent of our region’s young artists on display,” Parsons said.
“I was particularly delighted to see such strong participation this year, with more than 700 entries it is one of the highest the exhibition has ever received. It is a wonderful reflection that young people across our region are actively engaged in making art and that they are being supported and encouraged by their schools to develop their artistic skills and confidence. The quality of the finalist works is outstanding, and I am looking forward to welcoming the finalists and their families to see their works hung on the walls at NERAM.”
UNESAP: Let’s Hang It! will be on display at NERAM from 24 July to 9 August.
To RSVP for the exhibition opening, visit www.neram.com.au/event/unesap-lets-hang-it-opening-night-2.
Schools with finalists include:
- Armidale City Public School
- Armidale Secondary College
- Ashford Central School
- Ben Venue Public School
- Black Mountain Public School
- Calrossy Anglican School
- Carinya Christian School
- Chandler Public School
- Coffs Harbour High School
- Coffs Harbour Senior College
- Coolongolook Public School
- Cowper Public School
- Dorrigo Public School
- Glen Innes Public School
- Grafton Public School
- Hastings Secondary College
- Hernani Public School
- Hillvue Public School
- Home-school
- Holy Trinity College
- Kentucky Public School
- Krambach Public School
- Martin’s Gully Public School
- McCarthy Catholic College
- Narrabri Public School
- O’Connor Catholic College
- PLC Armidale
- Red Range Public School
- Rocky River Public School
- St Clare’s High School
- St James Primary School, Yamba
- St Mary’s Primary School, Armidale
- St Patrick’s Primary School, Walcha
- Tamworth Public School
- The Armidale School
- Timbumburi Public School
- Tweed River High School
- Ulmarra Public School
- Uralla Central School
- Warialda Public School
- Westdale Public School
- Yetman Public School
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