‘the churchie’ Committee announce Aileen Burns and Johan Lundh, Executive Directors at the Institute of Modern Art (IMA), have accepted the invitation to be the judges for the churchie national emerging art prize 2017.
As Executive Directors of the IMA, one of Australia’s leading independent forums for art and its discourses, Aileen Burns and Johan Lundh’s bold commitment to supporting artists at pivotal points of their practices will ensure a discerning and ambitious judging process for ‘the churchie’.

Burns and Lundh have extensive knowledge of emerging Australian art and, at the IMA, have organised major solo exhibitions with artists such as Gordon Bennett (Australia); Luke Willis Thompson (Aotearoa New Zealand/UK) and Nicholas Mangan (Australia). Prior to the IMA, Burns and Lundh were Co-Directors of the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), Derry, Northern Ireland. They were also part of the curatorial team for the 2013 Turner Prize as part of Derry’s City of Culture celebrations. Burns and Lundh are regular contributors to art periodicals, such as Art-Agenda, Canadian Art, Kunstkritikk, as well as exhibition catalogues and books. They have also lectured extensively across Europe, North America and Oceania, including CCS Bard, Annandale-on-Hudson; Goldsmiths – University of London; and Monash University, Melbourne.

Kevin Wilson, Curator, QUT Art Museum, comments, “the selection of Aileen and Johan as judges for this year’s prize recognizes the major industry talent here in Queensland and will provide artists the opportunity to present their work to judges with wide international experience.”

Through its association with high profile, experienced judges and curators such as Burns and Lundh, ‘the churchie’ continues to strengthen its reputation as a competition that provides a conduit for artists to travel from emerging to professionalism – a platform for artist to consolidate their practice and learn from others in their field.

In continuing to initiate support for Australia’s emerging artists, commencing in 2017, ‘the churchie’ announces a new Special Commendation Prize of $5,000, sponsored by NK Orthodontist, Brisbane. This is in addition to the two Sam Whiteley Memorial Highly Commended awards of $1,000 each.

All finalists’ entries will feature in a 5-week exhibition from 11 November to 17 December 2017 at QUT Art Museum.
The winners will be announced on Saturday 11 November at the Official Opening + Prize Announcement reception that afternoon from 5.00-7.00pm.