Art Awards and Exhibition

Open Studio  

The inaugural Open Studio showcased City of Stirling shortlisted Artists demonstrating their art practice to the local community in a relaxed open studio setting. The Open Studio operated from Friday 29 October - Monday 1 November with artists in attendance at varying times between 11.00 - 4.00pm daily.

• Friday 29 October, 11.30am - 1.30pm, Kathy Bierma 
• Saturday 30 October 10.00am - 11.30am, Julie Silverster 
• Saturday 30 October 12.00noon - 1.30pm, Virginia Casey
• Saturday 30 October 2.00pm-3.30pm, Naomi Antenucci 
• Sunday 31 October 10.00am -11.30am, Maryann Devereux
• Sunday 31 October 2.00pm -3.30pm, Karen Frankel
• Monday 1 November 12.30pm -2.00pm, Stephanie Boyle.

Tactile Tours guided by DADAA 

Community members living with disability and their carers were invited to participate in a free Tactile Tour of a range of art pieces in the Art Awards and Exhibition 2021. The tours were led by experienced DADAA guides on Wednesday 3 November at 10:15am and 11:30. 

Dardy Digital with Rhy Paddick (youth workshop)

Rhys Paddick, Aboriginal Educator and Digital Artist, shared his kaatijin (knowledge) on how he imagines, creates, produces and delivers his art. Graphic recording, logo design, commission work and meme architecture are all elements of Rhys’ skill set. Attendees aged between 15- 25 learnt how to step into our creative side - digitally.

Local Artist Networking Event including Curator Talk

Local City of Stirling artists attend an inaugural free networking event with floor talk from curator Kelly Price, discussing her inspiring journey in crafting our spectacular new exhibition and providing a deeper insight into some of the exhibiting artists and their work, on Wednesday 3 November from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. 

This event also featured special guest speaker Charlotte King, Socials Manager from Ignite Communication delivering a few 'tips and tricks' on how to build an amazing on-line presence.

Congratulations to all the award winners for the 2021 Art Awards and Exhibition. Prizes were awarded for outstanding works from a $15,000 prize pool, with a major Acquisitive Award of $7,500.

• Art Awards Exhibition will operate for 10 days
• The Acquisitive Award is now $7,500
• The new 50^th Anniversary ‘Local Visions’ Award - featuring people or places within the City of Stirling’s boundaries
• Entry fees (minus the Eventbrite booking fee) will be refunded for unsuccessful submissions not shortlisted for the Art Awards and Exhibition 2021
• The commission for artwork sales has been removed; artists will receive 100% of their advertised sale price
• Extra public programming events and workshops added
• Virtual tour of the 2021 exhibition, showcasing all artworks on the City's website. 

Sign-up to the City’s monthly Arts and Events Newsletter here to receive updates.

For further information, please email art@stirling.wa.gov.au.

Please note, entries open from 1 - 24 September, not August as previously advised via the July Stirling Scene e-newsletter. The City apologises for any inconvenience and we encourage you to check this page for updates.

• What is the City of Stirling Art Awards 2021?
  The City of Stirling Art Awards 2021 will showcase Western Australian artists working in a variety of mediums from painting, sculpture, mixed media/drawing and digital. 165 shortlisted artworks will be presented for the public in a collective exhibition and prizes are awarded by a panel of expert judges.

• When and where does the exhibition take place?
  The Art Awards and Exhibition 2021 will be hosted at the City of Stirling Reception Hall, 25 Cedric Street, daily 10am- 4pm, from Friday 29 October - Sunday 7 November 2021.

• How do I enter as an artist?
  Entries are now closed (1st September – 24th September 2021).
• Will food or beverages be available at the exhibition?
  No - however there is a café located a 2 minute walk from the exhibition space and we encourage visitors to support local.

• Will the exhibited artworks be available for sale?
  Yes – all artworks included in the exhibition will be available for sale, with the exception of the Acquisitive Award winner which is automatically acquired into the City of Stirling art collection.

• Does the City charge a commission of exhibition sales?
  Normally yes – however this year the sales commission previously charged by the City has been removed; artists will receive 100% of their advertised sale price.
• When is the Awards Presentation?
  The Awards Presentation will be held on Thursday 28 October 2021, however this event is invitation only for artists and their guests.

Sandra Murray

Sandra is an independent art curator, consultant and arts mentor; clients include the Royal Agricultural Society of WA and Bankwest. She has a depth of experience in working with artists, including directing and curating for art and museum institutions in WA and NSW and has worked in the public, corporate, not-for-profit, and private sectors. Sandra has project managed and curated over 60 art and museum exhibitions, including Finders Keepers: Nalda Searles as part of the Indian Ocean Craft Triennial at Mundaring Arts Centre in 2021. She holds a particular passion for contemporary West Australian art and is the Artistic Director and Lead Curator for Sculpture at Bathers 2022 in Fremantle. She holds a BA Honours in Art History and Theory, and a Master of Philosophy.

Dr Paul Uhlmann 

Paul Uhlmann is coordinator of Visual Arts in the School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University in Perth and is a practicing artist who works in painting, printmaking and artists’ books. He is interested in philosophies of process and impermanence. He studied art in Australia, was the recipient of a DAAD scholarship to study in Germany (1986-87), an Australia Council Studio Residency grant to study frescos in Italy (1994), and an Anne and Gordon International Samstag Visual Arts Scholarship to study in the Netherlands (1994-95). 

Lee Kinsella

Lee Kinsella is the Curator of Australia’s largest collection of women’s art, the Cruthers Collection, held at Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, University of Western Australia. She is also responsible for special exhibitions and projects. Previous positions include roles at the Art Gallery of WA, the National Film and Sound Archive, and the Australian War Memorial.