Davies commends Kondinin Art Prize organisers on 10th anniversary

Member for Central Wheatbelt Mia Davies MLA has congratulated the organisers of the Kondinin Art Prize on the 10^th anniversary of the local event.

While opening the art exhibition earlier this month, Ms Davies thanked the committee for their hard work and dedication towards promoting arts to the regions.

“Well done to the Kondinin Arts Prize committee for a decade of commitment of bringing arts to the local community,” she said.

“Art plays a significant role in the Central Wheatbelt electorate and an often underestimated role in maintaining vibrant, well-balanced regional communities.

“It’s vital that regional residents have access to the arts and thanks to hardworking community members like those locally at Kondinin, people throughout regional WA are continuing to enjoy arts and culture.”

Awards on the night included –

• Shire of Kondinin Acquisition Art Prize: Vanessa Curley (work on paper titled ‘Home’)
• Works on Paper:

  Winner                  Leesa Padget, ‘Bird Watcher’

  Commended         Michelle Henderson, ‘The Old Shed’

• Works on Canvas

  Winner                  Lyn Barry, ‘Paddocks Winter’

  Commended         Robert McCaffrey, ‘Anton Peshka’

• Any Other Medium

  Winner                  Barry Graham, ‘Let’s go hummin’’

Commended         Dallas Pegrum, ‘Job done Boss’ & Luke Pegrum, ‘After the Fire’

• Sculpture

Winner                   Kelly Browning, ‘Freestylin’’

Commended          Carolyn Francis, ‘Spring flower’

“The exhibition was a great success with over 130 high calibre entries,” Ms Davies said.

“I am a keen supporter of the arts in the Wheatbelt, and in addition to events like the Kondinin Art Prize, sponsor the bi-annual Wheatbelt Art Prize, a competition open to all artists in the electorate of Central Wheatbelt,” she said.

“In addition, the previous Member for Central Wheatbelt Hon Brendon Grylls and I started the Sue Muntz Bursary, an annual $1000 bursary to support young artists in the Wheatbelt pursue formal training in the arts.”

Member for the Agricultural Region Hon Martin Aldridge MLC said the State Government had a strong track record of investing in regional arts and culture through the Creative Regions program, a $24 million Royalties for Regions initiative.

For media enquiries please contact Mia Davies on 08 9041 1702 (Merredin office), 08 9622 2871 (Northam office) or email mia.davies@mp.wa.gov.au.