Paintbrushes at the ready

The search is on for the next artists who will take out the Mission to Seafarers Victoria’s (MtSV) annual maritime art awards.

Now in its 15th year the ANL Maritime Art Awards and Exhibition raises funds and awareness to support the core work of the mission.

The MtSV is now accepting entries from artists responding to the theme of “the relationship between humanity and the sea”.

According to MtSV CEO Andrea Fleming, the annual art awards and exhibition allows the mission not only to raise much-needed funds but also gives it voice to talk about the plight of seafarers.

“The importance of the art prize is that it helps to raise funds to support the provision of an onshore facility for seafarers. The mission has been a home-away-from-home for seafarers for 100 years next year,” Ms Fleming said.

According to Ms Fleming, each year the art prize attracts around 300 entries, including traditional maritime paintings and more contemporary works, which reflect on the exhibition theme in a variety of ways.

“Australia as an island nation relies so much on maritime for shipping and trade and leisure,” Ms Fleming said.

“The artworks depict all of these themes. In more recent years we’ve seen themes of immigration and asylum seeking.”

“I just love that the art prize gives people a chance to consider the ocean,” she said.

Ms Fleming said a few early birds had already got their artworks in but most entries would arrive towards the closing date at the end of August.

Since it was launched in 2002, the annual exhibition has showcased more than 800 maritime artworks and has seen entries from some of Australia’s most celebrated artists including Richard Claremont, Joel Rea, Peter Campbell, Maxwell Wilks and David Rowe.

This year, a collective $29,000 in prize money is up for grabs, including the prestigious $15,000 ANL Maritime Art Award.

Entrants will also compete for the $5000 ASP Best in Traditional Maritime Art Award, the $5000 Bendigo Wealth Emerging Artist Award, the $2000 Switzer People’s Choice Award and the $2000 Nevile & Co runners-up award.

The awards are open for submission until Sunday, August 28, with entries to be judged by the ANL Art Prize Awards Committee.

Eighty artworks will be shortlisted in September for the final judging ahead of the opening night of the exhibition on Thursday, October 6, where the winners will be announced.

The exhibition will be open to the public from Friday, October 7 until Friday, October 21 between 12pm and 6pm daily.

MtSV is also seeking volunteers to assist with the Art Prize and Exhibition.

For more information about the ANL Maritime Art Awards and Exhibition visit http://www.missiontoseafarers.com.au/anl-art-prize