In 2011 I initiated the inaugural Western Australian Environmental Art Awards in partnership with the Conservation Council of WA. The Awards aimed to provide an opportunity for the Western Australian community, including visual artists and creative environmentalists, to develop and exhibit artwork reflecting the WA environment and key environmental and sustainability themes.
A total of 187 entries were received from professional, amateur, youth and children artists around the state. The diversity and caliber of artworks were both amazing and inspiring. Entries ranged from sculptures, prints, photographs, digital works and paintings, to textiles, stencil-art, glassworks, collages and jewellery. Entries reflected upon many aspects of our Western Australian environment including our unique flora, fauna and ecosystems, as well as commenting on a number of sustainability issues currently pertinent to WA including climate change, uranium mining, salinity, biodiversity loss, drought and over-consumption
Three judges—well-known West Australian artists’ Nalda Searles and Perdita Phillips, and Conservation Council President Nicole Hodgson—had the unenviable task of assessing all of the entries and selecting winners and recipients of high commendation for each of the award categories: Professional, Amateur, Youth, Children, and the United Nations International Year of the Forests. A People’s Choice Award was also on offer and voted by visitors to the exhibition.
The City of Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi officially opened the exhibition at the Perth City Farm, with judges announcing winners. The opening night saw more than 200 people in attendance, with the exhibition having more than 1,000 visitors during the two-week open period, 22 October to 5 November 2011.
My Key Roles
- Project conception, development and management
- Liaison with and between key project partners
- Grant-writing and sourcing sponsors
- Drafting of design materials, including Conditions of Entry, Entry Form, Opening Night Invitation, List of Works
- Appointment of Judging panel and overseeing judging process
- Curation of exhibition
- Coordination of opening night
- Development of artist database
- Project documentation, evaluation and reporting
Key Outcomes
- 187 entries received
- 6-week exhibition
- $8,750 worth of cash prizes awarded
- 200+ people attending the Opening Night
- 1000+ visitors to the exhibition
- Development of new networks, partners and corporate sponsors for CCWA
PREVIOUS PROJECT FLOURISHING: ONLINE ART WORKSHOPS
NEXT PROJECT TONY STANISHEFF