The Organisation

The Bay of Fires Association Inc is a not for profit organisation promoting the arts in St Helens and the Bay of Fires Region.  It conducts the Bay of Fires Art Prize and the Bay of Fires Junior Art Prize.

The Prize

The main prize is $20,000 and the Prize is acquisitive.  The People's Choice award are non-aquisitive.

Background

Picture
The Bay of Fires Art Prize has been developed to enhance artistic and cultural interest of Australians in Tasmania, particularly during the quieter winter months.  The name was chosen because of the close relationship of the home of the Prize, St Helens, to the majestic beauty of the Bay of Fires and its artistic appeal.  
The aims are;
  • To celebrate and promote values of excellence, creativity and inclusiveness in the community
  • To encourage an understanding and appreciation of our Tasmanian environmental, human and spiritual inheritance
  • To provide opportunities for artists to showcase their work
  • To foster and promote partnerships between the Arts and enterprises in the community
The Prize is being supported by the St Helens and Districts Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and the Break O'day Council.

Media

The competition will be open to all visual arts media - 2D and 3D.  However, there will be strict size limits and requirements for exhibition.  The details are now available  on "The Competition" page.  Similarly, the rules for the Junior are available on the Bay of Fires Junior Art Prize page.

Theme

Our Island Inheritance
  To explore one of the following –
  •   Environmental – to interpret and reflect aspects of Tasmania’s natural and manmade environment, 
  •   Human – to interpret and reflect Tasmania’s social, political and industrial life, and/or 
  •   Spiritual – to interpret and reflect upon Tasmania’s spirit and essence

Judging

Judging will be carried out by three judges, all well regarded experts in their field/s.  One will be from Tasmania and the others from two mainland states.  Initial judging and short listing will be completed using high quality digital images of the art works.  Those artists whose work is short-listed will be invited to submit their works for exhibition and final judging in St Helens.  The digital images will be used for promotional purposes including a catalogue.

Timeline

The timeline is finalised.  The dates for key events for the 2015 Prize are:
  • Call for entries -  Dec 2014
  • Close of entries - 1st April 2016
  • Short-listing - 2nd May 2016
  • Delivery of works to St Helens - 6th June 2016
  • Final Judging and announcements - 11th June 2016 (Queen's Birthday Long Weekend)