2020 biennial North
Queensland
Ceramic Awards

Jonathan McBurnie: Hello, my name is Jonathan McBurnie and I'm the Creative Director of Perc Tucker Regional Gallery. It is my pleasure today to introduce to you Cr Liam Mooney, who is going to announce the winners of this year's Ceramic Awards, North Queensland's oldest art prize.

Cr Liam Mooney: I'd like to start by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of this land, the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun, and Bindal people. We pay our respects to their cultures, their ancestors and their Elders, past and present, and all future generations.

It gives me great pleasure to tune in to the celebrate the North Queensland Ceramic Awards for 2020. Like many events this year, the presentation today may look a little different than usual, but I thank you all for joining us.

Council is very to partner with the North Queensland Potters Association to present this esteemed exhibition. Established in 1973, the aim of the exhibition has been to increase public knowledge of the high standard of pottery in North Queensland and Australia.

The 2020 biennial North Queensland Ceramic Awards has not only achieved this aim but has also become very important to the City of Townsville Art Collection, with works acquired from these exhibitions forming a major focus of its impressive ceramic collection.

Today, we not only celebrate the Ceramic Awards, but the strength and diversity of potters in the Townsville arts community. Led by the North Queensland Potters Association, the Townsville region and its talented ceramic artisans have gained quite the name for themselves in the years gone by and I have no doubt this will continue for years to come.

And while we have fallen on uncertain times, as artists, you take your emotion, inspirations and experiences of daily life and mould them into something spectacular. I'm sure there has been some wonderful pieces created around these extraordinary times, some of which may even feature in this exhibition.

This year's Ceramic Awards features 88 artworks, more than half of these from Queensland, including 15 from local Townsville artists, as well as two international pieces. These Awards are a credit to the hard work of not only the artists, but also the North Queensland Potters Association and Townsville City Council's Galleries staff, who have worked tirelessly to deliver it.

I'd like to take the time to thank our extremely generous sponsors: Pack & Send, Loloma Jewellers, EMU Sportswear and the Rainford family. Your ongoing support is very well appreciated. I'd also like to extend my thanks to our esteemed judge and renounced ceramic artist Sandra for her time and expertise in selecting the winners of this rich selection of artworks.

So, on that very note without any further ado, let's get down to the business of our prize recipients. The Rainford Family Award has been awarded to Cecily Willis for Striped Pyjamas. Congratulations, Cecily!

This year's EMU Sportswear Award recipient is Warren Ogden for Monolith. Congratulations, Warren! The Loloma Jewellers Award – in memory of Betty Jackson – has been awarded to Annette Bukovinsky for Fall. Congratulations, Annette!

The Pack & Send Award winner is Molly Bosworth for It's Not Dark Yet. Congratulations, Mollie! And last, but certainly not least, drum roll please, the winner of the City of Townsville Art Collection Award is taking home $10,000 is Mahala Hill for Armoured Mist Frog. Congratulations, Mahala! Very, very, well done!

So, I encourage you all to keep an eye out for the virtual exhibition or to come and see these amazing works of art yourself here at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery. Once again, congratulations to all the arts for creating such interesting, technically-challenging and innovative pieces. Thank you and enjoy.