2012 Swan Hill National Print & Drawing Award

The mission of the Swan Hill Print and Drawing Acquisitive Awards is to promote excellence in Australian prints and drawings; present an exhibition of contemporary Australian prints and drawings, and continue to build a high quality collection for Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery.

The winners of the Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery’s 2010 National Print and Drawing Acquisitive Awards have been announced. At the official launch of the awards on Saturday, Deborah Williams was awarded the $5,000 print prize for her work titled Pause, while the winner of the drawing prize (which is also valued at $5,000) was Jan Palethorpe with Hollow Angel-Émigré. Both pieces will become part of the art gallery’s permanent collection.

The Ballard of Reading Gaol by local artist Pauline Bennetto was purchased by the Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery Associates and will also form part of the gallery’s permanent collection

The biennial awards once again attracted a strong calibre of works, with approximately 200 entries from artists across Australia. Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery Director Ian Tully said the finalists had travelled from as far as Canberra to attend the night.

We had around 100 people attend the opening and announcement of the awards, which was simply terrific, Mr Tully said. We also had around 50 people join the judges and finalists for a walk through of the exhibition on Sunday morning.

I would like to congratulate Deborah and Jan on each being awarded the $5,000 prize as well as Pauline on having her work purchased for our permanent collection here at the gallery.” Mr Tully also thanked his fellow judges Jan Senbergs and Cathy Leahy.