Entries sought for health-themed SA arts prize
Promoting the relationship between art, health and wellbeing is at the centre of a South Australian art prize which has just been launched for the second time and offers a total of $50,000 in prize money.
2021 Creative Health Art Prize winner Jasmine Crisp with Ruby Allegra and winning artwork ‘They had to share (a portrait of Ruby). Photo: Supplied
The Hospital Research Foundation Group’s Creative Health Art Prize is open exclusively to South Australian artists, who must create two or three-dimensional works around this year’s theme of “healing”.
The winner of the main prize will receive $40,000, with $5000 awarded to the winners of the emerging artist prize and veteran and emergency first responder prize, plus $1000 for the people’s choice winner.
More than 400 entries were received last year, with the main prize going to local painter and muralist Jasmine Crisp. She beat 40 finalists to take out the top award for her painting They had to share (a portrait of Ruby), depicting fellow artist Ruby Allegra.
Crisp says the Creative Health Art Prize inspired and enabled her to continue to create.
“There’s a really special motivating energy that comes from being recognised for making a work,’’ she says.
“Being a South Australian-only prize is really special. It really demonstrated the volume of incredible work we have right here.”
The acting executive director of THRFG – Creative Health, Victoria Bowes, says the prize is a “career-impacting” opportunity for South Australian artists.
“Art plays an important role in health and wellbeing,’’ she says. “The artworks entered in 2021 were incredible, with powerful messaging behind each entry.
“This highlighted the need to run the art prize again to allow our artists further opportunity to share their health and wellbeing messages.’’
Bowes says artworks submitted for the Creative Health Art Prize in 2023 must reflect the themes of “healing” as it relates to people’s physical or mental health and wellbeing.
The pre-selection panellists for 2023 are Gregory Ackland (Flinders University/TAFE SA), and artists Thomas Readett and Tricia Ross. The finalist judges are Lisa Slade, assistant director, public programs, Art Gallery of South Australia; Penny Griggs, chief executive officer at the Adelaide Central School of Art; and artist Richard Maurovic.
Entries are open until May 29 (details here). The winners will be announced on September 1 and an exhibition featuring the work of the selected finalists will be held at Light Square Gallery from August 28 – September 22.
