The Archibald Prize 2017 in Newcastle

Commencing Saturday 12 May, the Archibald Prize 2017 Regional Tour exhibition will open at Newcastle Art Gallery – coinciding with the launch of the current year’s Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Newcastle is the fifth venue on the exhibition’s seven-venue tour – and will be on display in Newcastle for a six week period, closing Sunday 24 June.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said hosting the Archibald Prize is a coveted opportunity for many regional galleries.

"We are so pleased that the Archibald Prize regional tour has returned to Newcastle Art Gallery," said the Lord Mayor.

"The annual Prize and the exhibition are eagerly anticipated by art-loving audiences and it is fantastic to have it back in our city."

Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton said the Prize is accessible to many people regardless of their knowledge of art.
"I love its ability to engage such a broad audience," Morton said. "Visitors feel comfortable in an art prize, everyone can walk through the exhibition and use their own judgement to decide if they agree or disagree with the judges' decisions.

"The Archibald Prize has been running for almost one hundred years, and has certainly had its fair share of controversy."

An annual, non-acquisitive painting prize presented by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Archibald Prize is one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious art awards, with the top prize awarded to the best portrait painting.

The Archibald Prize exhibition is a who’s who of Australian culture – from politicians to celebrities, sporting heroes to artists. The Archibald awards $100,000 to the best portrait preferably of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics, painted by any artist resident in Australasia.

The 2017 touring exhibition presents 43 finalists from 822 entries, and includes portraits of well-known sitters including Lisa Wilkinson AM and Francis Greenslade, and arts philanthropists such as Liz Laverty and Rupert Myer AO. Two sitters are Newcastle artists Lottie Consalvo and James Drinkwater in the painting Lottie and James by Jonathan Dalton.

Archibald Prize 2017 at Newcastle Art Gallery is a ticketed exhibition, $10 general admission, $7 Gallery Foundation and Society members, $7 concession, and free for children under 12, and pre-booked education groups.

More information:
http://nag.org.au/Exhibitions/Future/ARCHIBALD-PRIZE-2017

EXHIBITION PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Every weekend:
Art Cart, 10:30am - 12:30pm, Free
More info: www.nag.org.au/artcart

Every weekend, and available for booking at a time convenient to you
Guided Tours, from 11am, Free with exhibition entry
More info: www.nag.org.au/guidedtours

People's Choice Award
Voting closed end of day Monday 11 June
Exhibition visitors will have a chance to vote for the People's Choice Award and win a $500 cash prize from ANZ. The prize winner is picked at random from all participating voters.

YOUNG ARCHIE NEWCASTLE DRAWS 325 ENTRIES

Exhibited alongside winning works which have travelled around Australia - The Young Archie Newcastle is a special exhibition which celebrates and showcases the talents of Hunter based artists under 18 years of age. 325 entries were received for the Young Archie Newcastle competition: 44% in the 5-8 year category, 48% in 9-12 year, 6% in 13-15 year and 2% in 16-18 year.

Twenty finalists have been announced, 5 in each age category, and on Saturday 12 May, at a small ceremony in the space, the winner of each category will be announced. Each winner receive a prize pack from Newcastle Art Gallery, filled with a memory game, a drink bottle and other fun elements, and a gift card provided by Archibald Prize presenting partner ANZ.

The competition was judged by Director of Newcastle Art Gallery Lauretta Morton and guest judge artist Peter Gardiner, winner of the Kilgour Prize in 2016

YOUNG ARCHIE NEWCASTLE FINALISTS

5-8 year old category
Iris ALDER My Mummy
Evie GRAHAM E.V.I.E Me
Mia HUNT My Mum
Felicity KNIGHT The Baby Scarlett
Isaac SELVARATNAM Uncle

9-12 year old category
Sean CURE Natalie
Celia DRADY Brother
Rose MORTON Mummy and Sparky
Cohen REDMOND My Mum
Gabi VAN RENSBURG Self Portrait with Peanut

13-15 year old category
Michelle CORNELIA Victoria
Charlotte DONOHOE Gran
Xavier FOGARTY Me
Eloise MONK Ma
Shravanya TUMMALA Cheerful

16-18 year old category
Lauren BRYANT Jessie
Emily COVERDALE The Darkside
Willow MINAHAN Funky Orange
Tulley POWELL The Accident
Jethro SUMIRAN It's Gay

More information:
http://nag.org.au/Exhibitions/Future/YOUNG-ARCHIE-NEWCASTLE

The Archibald Prize 2017 Regional Tour is an Art Gallery of New South Wales touring exhibition and presented in partnership with ANZ.