Welcome to the 2022 Bay of Fires Youth Art Prize

Thanks for joining us!

2022  BODRA Youth Art Prize is now closed

The 2022 theme encouraged children and young people to: 

“Children and young people will reflect on their personal experiences of  sustainability in their local community or at  national and/or global level”

 

If you would like to participate or to ask your school about entry then please email us

Anyone aged 4-18 years old in 2021 can enter.  Entry is free. Entries due May 7th 2021

Feel free to contact us:

20 Talbot St Fingal Tas 7214 or E; BuildingBlocks@fvnh.org.au or T: 63742344 or M: 0400002116

https://www.facebook.com/BoFYArts

 

2022 Bay of Fires Youth Art Prize Judges Announced

Every year we are so appreciative of the judges who assist us to exhibit and assess the finalists and prize winners – never an easy job! They take so much time to look at art work online and in person as well as reading the individual stories that accompany the art work.

This year’s judges are a fabulous and enthusiastic group led by Chair of our judging panel, Annabel Dean

Lynn Ashton Judge Bio

Lynn Ashton’s association with the arts spans decades, from her career as a photo journalist, professional photographer, sculptor, curator and art conservationist. Lynn’s interesting and varied life has always had learning and study at its core which is clear through her many achievements including a Diploma in Education, A Degree in Sculpture, [VCA] and a Masters in Fine Art Curating and Conservation, [Melbourne University].

Lynn turned to teaching later in her career and helped shape the lives of many students creatively in conjunction with moving to the middle of Victoria where she built a house and studio. Here she continued to practice as a fine artist and produced exclusive Art works and commissions which she continues to create.

Lynn moved to St. Helens seven years ago and has contributed to the creative energy of our district. Lynn has generously given her time at the neighbourhood house as an art teacher,  mentoring many locals to expand and extend their skills in art practice. We welcome her as one of this years Bay of Fires Youth Art Award judges.

Judith Sercombe Judge Bio  

Judith Sercombe originated from Tanja NSW but has spent most of her life in Tasmania. Her creative career took off as a toy maker which was inspired by her children, by creating hippopotamus pillows children could sit on. As her creativity developed she studied Ceramics, specialising in throwing, hand building and gas firing.

Fascinated by these processes and driven by her passion for the earth and nature she moved onto saw dust firing and Raku. At the time Raku was a little known Japanese low firing pottery technique that is used to form Chawan tea bowls for Japanese tea ceremonies. She set up a home studio and Kiln on the far south coast of Tasmania and built a pole house over looking Randall’s Bay. During this time she also produced unique cartoons in clay figures, sculptures, drawings and paintings. She sold her work, along with other well known Tasmanian ceramists at Salamanca Market for 26 years and became recognised for her Avante Garde style work.

Her ceramics career has spanned over 35 years and Judith’s works have been purchased all over the world from Fiji to Scandinavia. Some of Judith’s work was stolen in a break in from a client in Papua New Guinea along with their TV. The client purchased more of her work as they loved it so much. We welcome her as one of our Bay of Fires Youth Art Award judges for 2022.

Annabel Dean Chair of Judging Bio

Annabel started her creative career drawing cartoons on peoples tables in share houses. This lead her to study a Fine Arts degree at the University of Tasmania. During her time at Uni she started a co-op with some other students to buy wholesale art supplies and created a gallery space to exhibit and sell student’s work. This enterprise later became Entrepôt Supply Store and Gallery which continues today as part of the Art School in Hobart.

After completing her degree she and 3 other artists created Printworks at Salamanca place and partnered with Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart. Printworks raised funds, bought printing presses and become a free community access print studio where anyone could create art and learn about Printmaking. Annabel and the 3 core members of Printworks created music/art events at the Salamanca courtyard. Annabel managed and curated the events which created a cult following of sometimes up 500 attendee’s. This style of event was later taken over by Salamanca Arts Centre and renamed Rektango which continues today.

Exhibitions were part of the Printworks agenda, which took Art out of the gallery space into the public arena. One of their first successful Art exhibitions was in the then popular pub the Wheatsheaf Hotel where a local band accompanied the exhibition. Printworks also partnered with other print studios nationally during this time.

One of the few remaining Printworks posters from these events is held in the national gallery archive and Printworks went from a free public space to a private artist studios     in the 2000s.

Annabel has continued to be involved in the creation and management of the arts, health and music festivals in far North Queensland. Annabel still practices art and selling her work. This is her fourth year as Chair of judging for the Bay of Fires Youth Art Award.

Bay of Fires Youth Art Prize Sponsors

The youth art prize and exhibition would not happen without the amazing support of our sponsors and volunteers.

The Fingal Valley Neighbourhood House, through the Building Blocks early learning and parenting support program provides ongoing support for art workshops, the website and overall coordination of the event.

We also welcome support from the Bay of Fires Winter Art Festival main committee and appreciate their work in making this festival a feature of the east coast calendar each June.

This year we are pleased to once again announce the support of Artery in Hobart who are not only Tasmania’s oldest and most trusted art supply store but also supporters of many events and prizes across Tasmania.

https://www.facebook.com/BODRegionalArts

Break O’Day Regional Arts are major sponsors of the event with a donation and will also host and exhibition of prize winners at the St Marys Markets in July.

Councillor Margaret Osbourne OAM, has this year sponsored the Primary People’s Choice Category – in recognition of the efforts of our youngest participants

Kris Shaffer is an Indigenous horticulturalist and educator living on Muwinina Country in (Neika, Tasmania) that has been “cared for and sustained by Aboriginal people for 150,000 years”. “Every day we touch the morning and say, ‘we are honouring our ancestors, we’re honouring those that have walked this land before us, this beautiful island that is like a sanctuary for us’.” Kris is not only offering a Welcome to Country this year but also sponsoring a prize for art works that demonstrate respect and understanding for indigenous themes.

The Class Entry Prize this year will be a $200 ZART voucher and runners up will get special 2 hr workshop with Big Shed Studios to work on the art project of their choice.

We also have a new category of small group (for 5 or less in primary) and there are some great art materials on offer to the lucky winners of this category

BODRA Youth Arts Prize 2020 Prize Winners

This year we were priviledged to have 3 passionate members of our local arts community to judge the BODRA Youth Art Prize. We thank each of them for their time and thoughtful discussions – it is not an easy job!

Prize Winner And Finalist list 2020

ANNABEL DEAN: Co-Ordinator BODRA Youth Art Prize Judge

Firstly thank you to all the amazing Artists and their entries for this year’s BODRA Youth Art Prize. The standard this year did not disappoint and there were many innovative works produced, making our job ReAlLy DiFFicUlT !!

I was captivated by how each Artist expressed their views on such a current issue and how they went about conveying their understanding of this year’s theme. To me each entry had merit and I was really impressed by the different mediums and range of colours everyone used.

Thank you so much for your participation in making this year’s Youth Art Prize such a success, a big CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who entered and keep up the good work.    

MELANIE FIDLER Judge BODRA Youth Art Prize 2020

What an honour it has been to judge the Bay of Fires Youth Art Prize. The Process being far from easy with such a diverse and incredible range of work and mediums. The artists responded to an important and relevant topic that directly impacts younger generations.  

Their concerns, hopes and views were clearly conveyed. This opportunity has installed environmental hope in me and I am so proud to be part of such a forward thinking and progressive community. Congratulations to the winners and all involved, here’s to a bright future.

JUSTIN EMMERTON Judge BODRA Youth Art Prize 2020

Local art teacher and maker with a committment to supporting and nurturing children and young people in our community through creative expression.

Community Prize

This year we are unable to host a “People’s Choice” vote due the limitations of our website so we will be asking selected community members from a range of backgrounds and interests, the Bay of Fires Winter Festival Commmittee, Break O’Day Regional Arts members and Hub4Health staff to vote on their favourite art work from all entries. Other prizes will be selected by our judging panel, headed by Annabel Dean

Prizes announced with other finalists and winners at the end of July.