Countdown is on for popular arts awards winners announcement

Countdown is on for popular arts awards winners announcement

An incredible transformation is taking place at the Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum (GRAGM) this week. 

With all entries submitted in The 43rd Rio Tinto Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards 2018, by artists near and far, it now remains to be seen which works will pass pre-selection.

 Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett said the best way to find out who this year’s winners are in the popular awards is to be at GRAGM when the announcement is made on Saturday (oct 13).

 “The gallery is closed for installation of the art awards exhibition before reopening on Saturday,” Councillor Burnett said.

 “The doors will open at 10am when artists and their supporters will stream through to see their works within the exhibition of entries.”

 Cr Burnett said attendees would have the opportunity to meet this year’s awards judge, Kevin Wilson, who will lead an exhibition floor talk at 11am, giving the group a chance to view the works from his perspective.

 “Visitors will be encouraged to stay on for an informal artists lunch, available for a gold coin donation before Kevin delivers his much-anticipated illustrated lecture ‘Is there a logic to the imagination?’.”

The exhibition will remain open to visitors until 5pm before closing to enable preparations for the gala official launch and awards presentations from 6pm.

Cr Burnett will be a guest speaker on the night, along with GRAGM Manager/Curator Jo Duke. 

Major sponsor representative and General Manager of Rio Tinto Yarwun Mark Gilmore will officially open the exhibition before all eyes focus on Kevin when he later concludes the evenings’ formalities by announcing the winners of the lucrative prize pool.

Members of the public are welcome to attend all of Saturday’s events and admission is free.  To RSVP, phone the Gallery & Museum on 4976 6766 or email gragm@gladstone.qld.gov.au

The exhibition of award entries will remain on display until 9 December 2018.

 The Gallery & Museum is located on the corner of Goondoon & Bramston Streets, Gladstone.