Organisers of Art Unlimited, one of regional Australia’s most highly regarded annual art competitions, have announced a major new prize for printmaking to add to the existing prizes it offers.
The $3000 cash prize will be known as the Acciona Energia Prize for Printmaking in recognition of its sponsor. Acciona Energia is a leader in renewable energy infrastructure, operating across 16 countries.
Art Unlimited, held in the NSW Central West town of Dunedoo, has been established for 15 years and has a total prize pool of $14,000. The printmaking category has been added to the competition, joining the categories of hanging art, photography and ceramics, each of which offer a cash prize of $3000. A further $2000 worth of prizes are offered in the competition.
Art Unlimited 2023 will be held on 20/21 May and 27/28 May, with an opening night on Friday 19 May where prize winners will be announced.
Acciona Energia spokesperson Emma Reiners commented: “We’re extremely proud to be a major supporter of the 2023 Art Unlimited exhibition. As part of our work to develop the proposed Orana Wind Farm we want ensure that the project’s benefits are felt across the whole community. We hope this will be the beginning of a long-lasting partnership we can make with the community as we develop this exciting project”.
Printmaking has made a significant contribution to Australian cultural life. Margaret Preston, Fred Wlliams, Arthur Boyd, Lloyd Rees, John Brack, John Olsen and Tracey Moffatt have raised the profile of Australian art both nationally and internationally through their mastery of techniques such as screen printing, etching, engraving, aquatint, monotype and lithography.
Printmaking is defined as being an original artwork on paper or fabric, which has been conceived by the artist to be realised as a print, rather than as a reproduction of a work in another medium. Images can be made using various techniques of multiplication, done by the hand of the artist. Works are numbered to indicate the number of prints in an edition.
With this generous prize, Acciona Energia, a leader in renewable energy, will renew the energy with which Australian artists will continue to explore printmaking techniques.