Bentley Art Prize is back!
By Samantha Elley
After a two year break, art lovers will be happy to know that the Bentley Art Prize is on again.
Thanks to the resilience of coordinator Helen Trustum and her team, and despite Covid and floods, the Bentley Hall, which received flood waters through it, is back up and running and ready to receive entries to the iconic prize.
“It feels good to be going ahead with the prize again this year,” said Helen.
“Because the artists and everyone who enjoys it, wanted it again.
“It’s great for the district and great for morale.”
With many regular sponsors on board, the Bentley Art Prize promises to be bigger and better than previous years.
Bentley Art Prize
Richmond Dairies have been regular sponsors in past years, donating $2,000 this year for the Section 1 Australian Landscape Acquisition Painting Prize, making the prize truly international.
“We display local works to our offices in England and Uruguay as well as here,” said Richmond Dairies spokesperson Melissa Wilton.
“Our hallways are decorated with past winners of the section and we get a lot of compliments.”
Helen said the Bentley Art Prize has been running since 1985 and this year would have been its 39th.
“Instead it is the 36th art prize due to Covid and the flood,” she said.
“The young ones are showing that they are keen.
“We also receive a lot of interest from the Gold Coast, Toowoomba and even Sunshine Coast.”
A morning tea held last week, saw Helen receive cheques from sponsors: the Casino RSM Club, Richmond Valley Council, Richmond Dairies and McDonald’s Pharmacy.
This year’s judge is Sharon Gilmour form Warialda.
Raised on the Northern Rivers, Sharon studied Visual Arts at Lismore for five years, she has taught Visual Arts at Warialda High School since 1996.
Awarded the 2021 Sir William Donell Art Foundation Award excellence in teaching, Sharon has also represented the Northern Rivers in the collaborative exhibition by Arts North West, entitled Art, Word, Place as it toured through NSW.
Bentley locals Peter and Meg Neilsen will judge the children’s art and Kevin Elsley from The Land newspaper will be judging the photography section.
Entries close on 26th July and entry forms can be found in various outlets or visit Bentley Art Prize on Facebook.
The Bentley Art Prize will be on over the weekend of 4th-6th August, 2023.
On Friday night there will be a wine and cheese tasting with entertainment from Croaker and the Honeybee.
On Saturday at 1pm, the event will be opened by Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan, with entertainment beforehand by Sylvia Nowlan.
On Sunday from 11am to 1pm patrons will be entertained by Luke Vasella.
For more entertainment news, click here.