the churchie national emerging art prize has once again received a record number of entries with 445 artists submitting over 1,000 individual artworks from a varying range of disciplines including painting, drawing, sculpture, installation and new media. An increase in entries across most states affirms this ‘emerging artist’ award as a truly national prize.

This year a number of artists took advantage of the new opportunity to submit propositional ideas in their application. The chosen finalists will also have the extended opportunity to work directly with QUT Art Museum senior curator; Vanessa Van Ooyen whilst developing their work for the exhibition. A pre-selection panel of three judges will select this year’s finalists, to be announced on 17 June 2016.

All finalists’ artworks will feature in a three month-long exhibition at QUT Art Museum from 20 August to 13 November. The winners will be announced at the Official Opening + Prize Announcement reception on 19 August between 6-8 pm. The overall winner will receive a cash prize of $15,000, donated by the prize money sponsor, Brand + Slater Architects.

Image: 2015 exhibition, displaying finalists Abdul-Rahman Abdullah, Yannick Blattner, Rachael Archibald, Harley Ives and Scott Morrison.