Art-lovers from around WA vying for awards

Hedland’s painters and sculptors are gearing up for their local artistic night of nights, with the 2018 Hedland Art Awards this weekend.

Artists from the Pilbara, Kimberley, Gascoyne, Mid West and Goldfields-Esperance regions are expected to compete in the prestigious competition with $100,000 in prizes.

Guest judges set to pick the event’s nine winning artworks include curator Nici Cumpston, contemporary abstract painter Cathy Blanchflower and University of WA chief cultural officer Professor Ted Snell.

FORM regional curator Andrew Nicholls said the judging panel was one of the strongest and most diverse assembled for the awards.

“Each year the Hedland Art Awards is judged by a different trio of independent judges, and we are delighted that this year’s panel comprises three nationally regarded arts industry experts who have not previously visited the Pilbara,” he said.

Previous Hedland Art Awards finalist Travis Lilley said the competition was a favourite among local artists, with designs planned well in advance and specifically for the event. “It’s always good fun and a bit nervous but I enter every year,” Lilley, who creates animal-themed sculptures from recycled copper, said.

“I chose the dragonfly because this time of year it starts to heat up and they are all swarming on Sutherland Street.”

On Saturday there will be a walk through for judges at 10am, a West End visual art display from 2pm-6pm, a youth hip hop workshop with Dallas Woods from 3.30pm and a closing performance by Woods at 5pm.

There will also be an After Market Bar from 2pm-10pm.