RAA Newsletter - Issue 4, May 2008,

Young artists given kick-start with portrait prize

A self-portrait of a young man with a cow has taken out the top prize in Tasmania’s inaugural Youth Portraiture Prize which is open to artists under the age of 30 years. Hobart artist Hilton Owen, 19, was judged to be the overall winner of the competition with Self-Portrait of a Cow near Richmond.

The competition has emerged from a partnership between Tasmanian Regional Arts (TRA) and RACT Insurance which TRA project officer Felicity Harris says highlights the importance of providing professional, high quality opportunities for young artists. “It is a chance for young people to participate and gain experience in the workings of a real exhibition. TRA places strong emphasis on youth opportunities in the arts,” says Harris.

Hilton Owen says the self-portrait satisfied a desire to reproduce a memorable moment in his life. “There was a great feeling that came with being in a dry, dusty Richmond paddock next to a cow. My mood was one of happiness, excitement and curiosity. I painted the work in the same way it felt to be in that paddock. Fairly rough and exciting but also carefully thoughtful and reserved.”

“I have been painting seriously for around three years, working almost every day. Since I began, portraiture has been my genre,” writes Owen.

Runner up Susannah Hart’s work, Self Portrait, explores issues of ‘femininity, sexuality, intimacy and defiance'. “These are issues I feel are relevant to youth culture,” she writes. The sponsor’s choice prize was awarded to Jacob Leary for Self Portrait with My Hand.

The winner received $5,000 and a trip to Sydney to see the Archibald Prize.

Felicity Harris says she hopes the prize will help reinvigorate portraiture as an art form. “There was a huge variety of portraits displayed, from the traditional to the contemporary. The competition was made possible by the generosity of RACT Insurance. Partnerships with business are one of the most powerful ways that community art projects can happen. Businesses provide resources in many ways, in-kind support, actual money and extensive networks with other businesses. Finding a business with a passion for the arts opens up new doors to make exciting projects happen. RACT Insurance Tasmanian Youth Portraiture Prize is a great example of this,” says Harris.

An exhibition of the works is currently touring Tasmania.

See more at www.tasregionalarts.org.au/content/view/199/54/

Hilton Owen – Self-Portrait with Cow near Richmond (Judges' Choice)



Young artists given kick-start with portrait prize A self-portrait of a young man with a cow has taken out the top prize in Tasmania’s inaugural Youth Portraiture Prize which is open to artists under the age of 30 years. Hobart artist Hilton Owen, 19, was judged to be the overall winner of the competition with Self-Portrait of a Cow near Richmond. The competition has emerged from a partnership between Tasmanian Regional Arts (TRA) and RACT Insurance which TRA project officer Felicity Harris says highlights the importance of providing professional, high quality opportunities for young artists. “It is a chance for young people to participate and gain experience in the workings of a real exhibition. TRA places strong emphasis on youth opportunities in the arts,” says Harris. Hilton Owen says the self-portrait satisfied a desire to reproduce a memorable moment in his life. “There was a great feeling that came with being in a dry, dusty Richmond paddock next to a cow. My mood was one of happiness, excitement and curiosity. I painted the work in the same way it felt to be in that paddock. Fairly rough and exciting but also carefully thoughtful and reserved.” “I have been painting seriously for around three years, working almost every day. Since I began, portraiture has been my genre,” writes Owen. Runner up Susannah Hart’s work, Self Portrait, explores issues of ‘femininity, sexuality, intimacy and defiance'. “These are issues I feel are relevant to youth culture,” she writes. The sponsor’s choice prize was awarded to Jacob Leary for Self Portrait with My Hand. The winner received $5,000 and a trip to Sydney to see the Archibald Prize. Felicity Harris says she hopes the prize will help reinvigorate portraiture as an art form. “There was a huge variety of portraits displayed, from the traditional to the contemporary. The competition was made possible by the generosity of RACT Insurance. Partnerships with business are one of the most powerful ways that community art projects can happen. Businesses provide resources in many ways, in-kind support, actual money and extensive networks with other businesses. Finding a business with a passion for the arts opens up new doors to make exciting projects happen. RACT Insurance Tasmanian Youth Portraiture Prize is a great example of this,” says Harris. An exhibition of the works is currently touring Tasmania. See more at www.tasregionalarts.org.au/content/view/199/54/ >	Back to main newsletter

Many of the projects in this newsletter have been supported by the Regional Arts Fund, an Australian Government initiative supporting the arts in regional, remote and very remote/isolated Australia. Regional Arts Australia promotes the development of the arts for the one-in-three Australians who live in regional, rural and remote parts of the country. Our members give country Australians access to outstanding cultural experiences that are either home grown or tour from other towns and cities. In this way, Regional Arts Australia gives a voice to artists and puts culture at the heart of community life across country Australia.