Entries open for Percivals portrait competition
Date published: 12 February 2016
Entries are now open for North Queensland’s own portrait competitions – the Percival Portrait Painting Prize and DUO Magazine Percival Photographic Portrait Prize.
Perc Tucker Regional Gallery’s biennial Percival Portrait Painting Prize began in 2007, and is a competition for established and emerging artists showcasing varied styles and approaches to the contemporary portrait.
Prize money and national reputation has increased through the years, with the major prize now $40,000 acquisitive.
A $1,000 People’s Choice Award is also offered, while a special award has been added for 2016 to celebrate the city’s T150 milestone. The Townsville 150th Anniversary Portrait Painting Award is a $10,000 acquisitive prize, and will be awarded to an artist from the Townsville local government area who has chosen to depict a sitter also from the region.
Coinciding with the portrait painting competition is the DUO Magazine Percival Photographic Prize, now in its second year at Pinnacles Gallery.
Photographers can vie for the major $10,000 acquisitive prize, People’s Choice Award ($1,000) and the Townsville 150th Anniversary Photographic Portrait Award ($5,000 acquisitive).
The DUO Magazine Percival Photographic Portrait Prize was launched in 2014 and proved extremely popular in its first year with 105 artists entering a total of 167 works.
Community and Culture Committee chair Cr Sue Blom said the Percivals showcased the outstanding and innovative works currently being produced by Australian artists and photographers but was also an opportunity for emerging talent to express themselves and those close to them.
“Past competitions have showcased an outstanding calibre of work and have demonstrated why The Percivals have become one of Australia’s leading portrait competitions,” Cr Blom said.
Manager Gallery Services Shane Fitzgerald said The Percivals had grown into a truly national competition attracting the breadth and quality of artists from all over the country.
“That we have previous Archibald winners vying for and winning the top prize demonstrates the importance of The Percivals,” he said.
Interested artists and photographers are encouraged to contact the gallery for entry forms or enter online at www.townsville.qld.gov.au.
Applications close Friday, March 18 and artists will be advised of selection on Friday, April 1.
Winners will be announced at gala exhibition launches, with the Percival Portrait Painting Prize set to open at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery on Friday, May 6, and the DUO Magazine Percival Photographic Portrait Prize launching at Pinnacles Gallery the following Friday evening, May 13.
Both exhibitions will be displayed until Sunday, July 10.
