Call for entries for $6000 Clarence Valley Indigenous Art Award


Entries have opened for a $6000 award that promotes contemporary Indigenous art across the North Coast.

The biennial Clarence Valley Indigenous Art Award (CVIAA) is open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists who reside in Yaegl, Bundjalung and Gumbayngirr. The CVIAA is made possible with the support of the Yulgilbar Foundation and the Clarence Valley Council.

The judge for the 2015 CVIAA is the assistant curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Emily McDaniel. Emily will judge all entries to the award, which opens at 6pm, Friday October 16.

Emily McDaniel is from the Kalari Clan of the Wiradjuri nation in Central New South Wales. Prior to her appointment at the AGNSW she was the Aboriginal Emerging Curator for the 18th Biennale of Sydney.

She has held numerous public programs and education roles at the Art Gallery of NSW, Museum of Contemporary Art and Object Gallery, with particular emphasis on outreach, access and Indigenous programs.

For many years she worked in the community and cultural development sector, working with south west and western Sydney communities through digital media workshops and programs. Emily holds a BA Communications (Media Arts and Production), University of Technology, Sydney.

Every two years the leading Aboriginal artists of our area participate in the CVIAA, which has been judged since it started in 2009. The award supports the Indigenous arts and culture in our region as well developing the collection of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art held by the Grafton Regional Gallery.

Artists are invited to submit up to two artworks created in 2014 or 2015 that are within the given size limits. Artists can drop off their entries to Grafton Regional Gallery or one of the neighbouring galleries at Lismore, Murwillumbah, Coffs Harbour or Ballina. Entry forms with full details are available from the Grafton Regional Gallery or at the website at www.graftongallery.nsw.gov.au .

For more information visit Clarence Valley Council