BARKLY artists are urged to enter the inaugural National Capital Art Prize which offers a prize pool of $45,000 across one of the broadest criteria ever offered in Australian art.

The competition is making national history as the only competition to allow entrants to paint any vision, such as portrait, landscape or abstract, and use any medium including oil, acrylic, watercolour, mixed media or pencil.

In another unique aspect, each artist can enter up to four different paintings in combination of the four main categories which include Open, First Nations Prize for Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander artists, Landscape and Student.

“The National Capital Art Prize is like a bright light at the end of a long tunnel as we artists emerge from COVID hibernation,” said renowned artist David Hinchliffe. 

“Speaking to my fellow artists about the prize, I know there is genuine excitement in such a wide-ranging prize. 

“I congratulate the organisers for the breadth of the prize and the fact that there is a separate First Nations component.” 

A two-tiered adjudication process will see the best of the best selected as finalists for a further round of judging to decide the category winners. 

Entrants have a unique opportunity for exposure with all finalists’ work put on public display and made available for sale. Finalists will also have the chance to win the People’s Choice Award voted by the public. 

Director and Founder of the National Capital Art Prize, Mr Bob Stephens, said he has been thrilled with the reaction to the Awards since the Prize was announced a few weeks ago. 

“The level of support and interest we have received reflects the need Australia has had for a forum where paintings of any type can be viewed, studied, critiqued and sold – all through one competition,” he said. 

“Australian artists have struggled for visibility over the last 12 months and these Awards give them a platform for exposure and commercial opportunity.” 

The 2021 National Capital Art Prize welcomes both established and emerging artists to submit pieces on any theme or genre. 

Entry is open to citizens and permanent residents of Australia over 18 years of age. 

Entries can be made via the Prize website National Capital Art Prize and close on 1 July. 

Finalists will be announced on 2 August and displayed in a public exhibition in Canberra from 18 September. 

All finalists’ works will be available for sale giving the artists a strong commercial opportunity. 

Further details are available at www.nationalcapitalartprize.com.au