The celebrated Ipswich Art Awards will move to November, claiming a new place in the city’s artistic calendar.
Founded in 2000, the Art Awards have been held in May in recent years, but a review of the region’s creative activities has led to November being identified as the ideal fit for Ipswich’s largest Art Awards.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the level of interest in the awards has reached new heights in recent years and it was time the exhibition claimed its own space on the local events calendar.
“The 2023 Ipswich Art Awards were a huge success with the exhibition attracting more than 400 emerging and established artists from across Australia,” Mayor Harding said.
“Council believes the Ipswich Art Awards have become a significant event and deserve to claim their own place on the city events calendar, so we have moved them to November to enable them to flourish and grow even further.
“May is a very busy time in the local arts scene with the Ipswich Arts Award coinciding with the Ipswich Show, who host their own Fine Art and Photography Competition which divided local artists and visitation for both events.”
ArtsConnect president Glen Smith, who is also Ipswich Show Fine Arts Chief Steward, expressed his excitement that artists will now have an opportunity to showcase their work in both exhibitions.
“The Ipswich arts scene continues to expand and mature and ArtsConnect is supportive of the strategic move to space out these two events,” Mr Smith said.
“Ipswich City Council is a major sponsor of the Ipswich Show so it’s just logical to provide space for the local community to be able to enter both competitions if they choose.”
The Ipswich Arts Advisory Group, which includes Ipswich Art Awards founder Wayne McDonnell and former organiser Kate Roberts, was also consulted to ensure it was supportive of the date change.
Mayor Harding also noted the November date for the Ipswich Art Awards will also slot nicely into the schedule of events in the Nicholas Street precinct between the Galvanised Festival in September, and Christmas in Ipswich.
“The Ipswich Art Awards are a vibrant celebration of the art and draw more than 1500 enthusiastic visitors annually. The calibre of talent in our city is just outstanding,” Mayor Harding said.
Updates on the 2024 Ipswich Art Awards can be found at https://www.shapeyouripswich.com.au/creativeindustries/ipswich-art-awards-2024
Information on the Ipswich Show Fine Arts competition is available at https://ipswichshow.com.au/competitions-2024-competitions
For more information on ArtsConnect Ipswich go to: https://www.artsconnectipswich.com.au