Sydney’s Northern Beaches Council opens its inaugural Environmental Art and Design Prize exhibition

Sydney's Northern Beaches Council has today unveiled its inaugural exhibition of the Environmental Art and Design Prize. The exhibition of the 226 finalist works is presented across three arts venues on the Northern Beaches at Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Curl Curl Creative Space, and Mona Vale Pop Up Gallery, from 12th November until 12th December 2021, alongside a public program of talks with finalist artists.

Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan enthused “we’re thrilled to finally be able to display these exceptional works for the inaugural edition of the Environmental Art and Design Prize. It’s inspiring to see how engaged Australian artists and designers are with the current environmental issues impacting our natural world and their ability to communicate this through their work. Now more than ever, after the last nearly four months in lockdown, we see the value of nature and the need to protect it.”

Prize winners will be announced on Thursday 25th November by a judging panel comprised of internationally renowned Australian artist Euan Macleod; artist, designer, and curator Liane Rossler; and CEO and Artistic Director of the Australian Design Centre, Lisa Cahill.

The inaugural Prize celebrates contemporary art practices that are socially engaged, environmentally aware, and seek to enrich and contribute to positive change through creative practice. The finalist works have been selected across the categories of Wearable Design, Functional Design, Digital, Works on Paper and Photography, Ceramics and Small Sculpture, Painting, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, and separate young categories for creatives aged 7 – 12 and 13 – 18 years old.

Works engaged with contemporary art practice will be displayed at Manly Art Gallery & Museum, while wearable and functional design will be on show at Curl Curl Creative Space and young finalists presented at Mona Vale Pop Up Gallery.

A series of free public programs will offer visitors a chance to engage with finalist artists. Across two Sundays in November artists and designers will come together to discuss their works, inspirations, and creative processes. On 21st November at the Curl Curl Creative Space with artists and designers including Tracie Axton, Ruth Downes, Matthew Harkness, Gina Mastio, Elle Nelhams, Mark O’Ryan, and Gemma & Richard Rasdall and on 28th November at the Mona Vale Pop Up Gallery hear from young artist and designer finalists. On Sunday 5th December, textile artist Ivy Whiteman will share demonstrations and insights into making from nature and the ethics of an environmentally sensitive practice at the Curl Curl Creative Space.

The Prize is an inclusive and diverse exhibition that celebrates the vibrancy of the arts and design community within and beyond the Northern Beaches. The finalist works showcase artists and designers who have a keen interest and focus on the natural world, environmental renewal, regeneration, and the circular economy in their work.

Image credit: Geg Piper