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Annual Art Awards – Emerald
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The awards
The Central Highlands Regional Council Annual Art Awards – Emerald is the gallery’s premier art event. It attracts local and national artists and is held in August each year as part of council’s Arts around August program.
Established and emerging artists of all ages can submit entries in up to seven categories. From easel, paper-based and three-dimensional works to photography and digital art, each category comes with a $750 prize for first and $250 prize for second place.
Each year, judges award the prestigious Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award to the most outstanding work from all categories and recognise local talent with the Central Highlands Regional Council Local Artist Award.
This year we are celebrating up-and-coming artists of all ages with the introduction of a new junior category for artists aged 12 years and under.
In style of an evening at the gallery, the awards night and exhibition opening has become a popular event in the Central Highlands social calendar. Artists and guests mingle over wine and platters, while nominating their favourite artwork for the People’s Choice Award.
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Award categories
Category one | Easel-based works
Artworks can be any medium, including mixed media, acrylic, oil, collage, print and more. Artworks should be on a non-paper-based support.
Category two | Works on paper
Artworks can be any medium, including drawing, watercolour, collage, mixed media, printmaking and more. Artworks must be on a paper-based support.
Category three | Three-dimensional and fibre works
Artworks can be freestanding or wall hung and include pottery, sculpture, maquettes, carving, assemblage, timber, metal, stone, plastic, fibre, mosaics and more.
Category four | Photography
Non-manipulated photography.
Category five | Digital art
Digital art and manipulated photography (no film).
Category six
Youth 13-18 years (any medium)
Category seven
Junior 12 years and under (any medium)
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Judges' awards
Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award
Selected by judges, the Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award is open to any entries in categories one to five. It comes with a $4,000 prize.
Central Highlands Regional Council Local Artist Award
Selected by judges, the Central Highlands Regional Council Local Artist Award is open to any entries in categories one to five by artists who live in the Central Highlands region. It comes with a $500 prize (non-acquisitive).
People’s Choice Award
Voted by guests at the opening and awards presentation night, the People’s Choice Award comes with a $250 prize.
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Key dates
Date Description 5.00 pm 15 July 2022 Entries close 29 July 2022 Final artwork delivery 5 August 2022 Official opening & awards presentation 8 August - 16 September 2022 Exhibition open
Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm5 August - 21 August 2022 People’s Choice Votes open via Have your say 20 September - 23 September 2022 Artwork collection -
2021 winners
Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award
“Too Much on her Plate” by Jemma Isherwood
Central Highlands Regional Council Local Artist Award
“Growing Free” by Heather Wehl
Winner of the People’s Choice Award 2021
“Incandescence” by Raelene Bock & Michelle Gray
Category 1 Winners (Easel Based works)
First prize
“A Sensory Place” by Ainslie McMahon
Second prize
“Dry Brush Gully, Rubyvale” by Maxine Wild
Highly commended
“Mangroves / High Tide” by Elena Churilova
Puppy Puddle by “Loretta Horn”
“Red Road” by Carmen Beezley-Drake
Category 2 Winners (Works on Paper)
First prize
Old Andado Station by Andrea Chapman
Second prize
“Blackdown Tablelands” by Elena Churilova
Category 3 Winners (3D Works)
First prize
“After the Bushfire” by Carol Forster
Second prize
“Tender Beauty” by Sarah Larsen
Category 4 Winners (Photography)
First prize
“Coven” by Jemma Isherwood
Second prize
“Misty Morn” by Sandra Ryan
Category 5 Winners (Digital Art)
First prize
There was an Old Woman by Sandra Ryan
Second prize
Old Brown Horse by Sandra Ryan
Category 6 Winners (Youth 13-17 yrs)
First prize
Californian Car by Meisha Greentree
Second prize
“Are you Satisfied Where you are?” by Joshua O’Donnell
Highly commended
“Peony ” by Gracie Gersbach
Category 7 Winners (Junior – under 12 yrs)
First prize
“Hooples” by Couper Collis
Second prize
“Pink Cockatoo” by Joseph Murree
Highly Commended
“Someone Who Helps” by Abigail McBurney
“Highland Cow” by Hunter Gersbach
“Crocy Croc” by Cobi Hawkins
“Barbwire Emu Chick” by Cobi Hawkins
“Bright and Early” by Brenton Chick
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2020 Winners
Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award
‘Breaking News’ by Jemma Ryan
Central Highlands Regional Council Local Artist Award
‘Goondoye Love’ by Janine Hill
Margaret Gibson Youth Award
‘One’s Own’ by Lucy Thommason
People’s Choice Award
‘Girl in the Rain’ by Michelle Gray and Raelene Bock
Category 1 – Easel based works – any medium
First prize
‘Focus on the Light’ by Catherine Boreham
Second prize
‘A Pair of Galahs’ by Randelle McClure
Highly commended
‘Above the Crowd (Emergent Leaders) by Elena Churilova
Category 2 – Works on paper
First prize
‘I See You Too!’ by Randelle McClure
Second prize
‘Cooee Bay’ by Jet James
Category 3 – 3D Works
First prize
‘Girl in the Rain’ by Michelle Gray and Raelene Bock
Second prize
‘Gasco Sign’ by Jeff Bowerman
Category 4 – Photography
First prize
‘Western Storm’ by Tricia Godwin
Second prize
‘Twilight on Water’ by Glen Wright
Category 5 – Digital art
First prize
‘Narnia’ by Jemma Ryan
Second prize
‘What Lies Beneath’ by Glen Wright
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2019 Winners
Category One (Easel-based works) - First: Elena Churilova, Back to Nature
- Second: Sandra Biggin, Spring’s Glory
- Highly commended: Garry Andrews, Mt Ball Central QLD
Category Five (Digital art) - First: Glen Wright, Blue Door
- Second: Glen Wright, Ebb and Flow
Category Two (Works on paper) - First: Jet James, The Gift
- Second: Shona Nicholls, Sunrise with Magpies
- Highly commended: Joanne Kerr, Sepia Landscape
Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award - Andrea Chapman, It’s About Time
Category Three (3D works) - First: Lachlan Grierson, Industrial Protea Lamp
- Second: Raelene Bock and Michelle Gray, Perpetual Abundance
- Highly commended: Leonie Geary, Beachcomber coffee table
Central Highlands Regional Council Local Artist Award - Lachlan Grierson, Industrial Protea Lamp
Category Four (Photography) - First: Pam Bartlett-Munt, Ataahua Awaawa (Beautiful Valley)
- Second: Jemma Ryan, Facing the Storms
- Highly commended: Karen Galea, Hell on the Freeway
Margaret Gibson Youth Award - Beau Ingram, Skogafoss Waterfall
The Central Highlands Regional Council Annual Art Awards – Emerald is the gallery’s premier art event. It attracts local and national artists and is held in August each year as part of council’s Arts around August program.
Established and emerging artists of all ages can submit entries in up to seven categories. From easel, paper-based and three-dimensional works to photography and digital art, each category comes with a $750 prize for first and $250 prize for second place.
Each year, judges award the prestigious Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award to the most outstanding work from all categories and recognise local talent with the Central Highlands Regional Council Local Artist Award.
This year we are celebrating up-and-coming artists of all ages with the introduction of a new junior category for artists aged 12 years and under.
In style of an evening at the gallery, the awards night and exhibition opening has become a popular event in the Central Highlands social calendar. Artists and guests mingle over wine and platters, while nominating their favourite artwork for the People’s Choice Award.
Category one | Easel-based works
Artworks can be any medium, including mixed media, acrylic, oil, collage, print and more. Artworks should be on a non-paper-based support.
Category two | Works on paper
Artworks can be any medium, including drawing, watercolour, collage, mixed media, printmaking and more. Artworks must be on a paper-based support.
Category three | Three-dimensional and fibre works
Artworks can be freestanding or wall hung and include pottery, sculpture, maquettes, carving, assemblage, timber, metal, stone, plastic, fibre, mosaics and more.
Category four | Photography
Non-manipulated photography.
Category five | Digital art
Digital art and manipulated photography (no film).
Category six
Youth 13-18 years (any medium)
Category seven
Junior 12 years and under (any medium)
Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award
Selected by judges, the Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award is open to any entries in categories one to five. It comes with a $4,000 prize.
Central Highlands Regional Council Local Artist Award
Selected by judges, the Central Highlands Regional Council Local Artist Award is open to any entries in categories one to five by artists who live in the Central Highlands region. It comes with a $500 prize (non-acquisitive).
People’s Choice Award
Voted by guests at the opening and awards presentation night, the People’s Choice Award comes with a $250 prize.
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 5.00 pm 15 July 2022 | Entries close |
| 29 July 2022 | Final artwork delivery |
| 5 August 2022 | Official opening & awards presentation |
| 8 August - 16 September 2022 | Exhibition open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm |
| 5 August - 21 August 2022 | People’s Choice Votes open via Have your say |
| 20 September - 23 September 2022 | Artwork collection |
Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award
“Too Much on her Plate” by Jemma Isherwood
Central Highlands Regional Council Local Artist Award
“Growing Free” by Heather Wehl
Winner of the People’s Choice Award 2021
“Incandescence” by Raelene Bock & Michelle Gray
Category 1 Winners (Easel Based works)
First prize
“A Sensory Place” by Ainslie McMahon
Second prize
“Dry Brush Gully, Rubyvale” by Maxine Wild
Highly commended
“Mangroves / High Tide” by Elena Churilova
Puppy Puddle by “Loretta Horn”
“Red Road” by Carmen Beezley-Drake
Category 2 Winners (Works on Paper)
First prize
Old Andado Station by Andrea Chapman
Second prize
“Blackdown Tablelands” by Elena Churilova
Category 3 Winners (3D Works)
First prize
“After the Bushfire” by Carol Forster
Second prize
“Tender Beauty” by Sarah Larsen
Category 4 Winners (Photography)
First prize
“Coven” by Jemma Isherwood
Second prize
“Misty Morn” by Sandra Ryan
Category 5 Winners (Digital Art)
First prize
There was an Old Woman by Sandra Ryan
Second prize
Old Brown Horse by Sandra Ryan
Category 6 Winners (Youth 13-17 yrs)
First prize
Californian Car by Meisha Greentree
Second prize
“Are you Satisfied Where you are?” by Joshua O’Donnell
Highly commended
“Peony ” by Gracie Gersbach
Category 7 Winners (Junior – under 12 yrs)
First prize
“Hooples” by Couper Collis
Second prize
“Pink Cockatoo” by Joseph Murree
Highly Commended
“Someone Who Helps” by Abigail McBurney
“Highland Cow” by Hunter Gersbach
“Crocy Croc” by Cobi Hawkins
“Barbwire Emu Chick” by Cobi Hawkins
“Bright and Early” by Brenton Chick
Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award
‘Breaking News’ by Jemma Ryan
Central Highlands Regional Council Local Artist Award
‘Goondoye Love’ by Janine Hill
Margaret Gibson Youth Award
‘One’s Own’ by Lucy Thommason
People’s Choice Award
‘Girl in the Rain’ by Michelle Gray and Raelene Bock
Category 1 – Easel based works – any medium
First prize
‘Focus on the Light’ by Catherine Boreham
Second prize
‘A Pair of Galahs’ by Randelle McClure
Highly commended
‘Above the Crowd (Emergent Leaders) by Elena Churilova
Category 2 – Works on paper
First prize
‘I See You Too!’ by Randelle McClure
Second prize
‘Cooee Bay’ by Jet James
Category 3 – 3D Works
First prize
‘Girl in the Rain’ by Michelle Gray and Raelene Bock
Second prize
‘Gasco Sign’ by Jeff Bowerman
Category 4 – Photography
First prize
‘Western Storm’ by Tricia Godwin
Second prize
‘Twilight on Water’ by Glen Wright
Category 5 – Digital art
First prize
‘Narnia’ by Jemma Ryan
Second prize
‘What Lies Beneath’ by Glen Wright
Category One (Easel-based works)
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Category Five (Digital art)
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Category Two (Works on paper)
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Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award
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Category Three (3D works)
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Central Highlands Regional Council Local Artist Award
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Category Four (Photography)
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Margaret Gibson Youth Award
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