25th Telstra Art Award Open

Aboriginal Art Directory | 04.03.08

News source: Northern Territory Government

The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) and Telstra are calling for entries for preselection in the 25 th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award.

MAGNT Director, Anna Malgorzewicz, said 2008 marks a very special year for the Telstra Art Award as it celebrates its Silver Jubilee.

“The Telstra Art Award is the first and longest running indigenous art award in the country and to reach 25 years is a fantastic milestone,” Ms Malgorzewicz said.

“This year we’re expecting to receive more than 300 quality entries for preselection,
with about 100 works to be selected for the Award exhibition in August.”

General Manager of the Telstra National Indigenous Directorate, Lawrie Mortimer, said Telstra had a long history of supporting the arts, with Telstra’s sponsorship of the Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award among the longestrunning arts sponsorship in Australia.

“Telstra is proud to support indigenous artists in Australia and our commitment is apparent, with Telstra being principal sponsor of the Award since 1992,” Ms Mortimer said.

“We encourage Indigenous artists from across Australia to submit their works for preselection
in the 2008 Telstra Art Award and look forward to uncovering new and talented artists.”

Ms Malgorzewicz said the Telstra Award of $40,000 and the other four media categories will again be nonacquisitive, ensuring the winning artists can retain their works and gain further financial benefit from the sale of the work.

“Since this initiative was introduced, the Award has seen a significant increase in the number of works exceeding the $40,000 price threshold, with eight works in last year’s exhibition equal to or above this amount,” Ms Malgorzewicz said.

“The rise in the sale value of artwork in the exhibition reflects the current growth in the value of Indigenous art.”

Entries for the 25 th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award close on Friday 28 March 2008.

The Telstra Art Award is open to all adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and aims to showcase the very best Australian Indigenous art from around the country.

The Australian Government’s Visual Arts and Craft Strategy also provides funding toward the Award and have recently announced this initiative will continue to 2011.

For further information contact:
Award Coordinator, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
GPO Box 4646 Darwin NT 0801
Tel: 08 8999 8203 Fax: 08 8999 8148 Email: natsiaa@nt.gov.au

Media note: Previous Telstra Art Award finalists / winners are available for interview. For details call Melanie Neilson on 0400 599 463.

The 25th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award is supported by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments.

URL: http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/museums/index.html

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