{"id":8020,"date":"2024-08-23T23:47:58","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T13:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/?p=8020"},"modified":"2024-08-23T23:48:00","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T13:48:00","slug":"2024-gosford-art-prize-winners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onthecoastpublications.com.au\/onthecoastover55\/2024-gosford-art-prize-winners\/","title":{"rendered":"Local Artist Wins Top Prize at 2024 Gosford Art Prize Amidst Fierce Competition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Photo: The winning entry – Central Coast artist Maree Azzopardi’s \u2018The Crossings\u2019\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Central Coast Council is pleased to announce the winners of this year\u2019s Gosford Art Prize, with $28,000 in prize money. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year 908 entries were received from across Australia, with 135 of the artworks selected as finalists for exhibition, making it a difficult job for both the selection panel and finalist judges, which comprised artist Peter Godwin and curator Libby Knott.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it was a difficult task, the judges were unanimous in their selection for the first prize winner \u2013 local Central Coast artist Maree Azzopardi, for her artwork \u2018The Crossings\u2019.  In winning first prize, Ms Azzopardi also won $15,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Commenting on the winning artwork by Ms Azzopardi, Judge Peter Godwin said he enjoyed the historical metaphor and symbolism of the artwork.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart said the Gosford Art Prize is known for making a real difference to an artist\u2019s career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Gosford Art Prize offers an exciting range of opportunities for visual artists working in any art form to showcase their work to a large audience and potentially become an acquisition of the Central Coast\u2019s art collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnce again, the calibre of artists from around the country was extremely high \u2013 however it was fantastic that the winner was local artist Maree Azzopardi from The Entrance and that 30% of the finalists were from the Central Coast.  This is a real indication of the strength of the art scene on the Coast,\u201d Mr Hart said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI would like to congratulate Maree Azzopardi as the major winner however we also offer congratulations to the other category winners and to all the artists who entered from across Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Central Coast Council Director of the Regional Gallery, Tim Braham said the selection panel aimed to include a variety of styles, content and techniques with fierce competition amongst a range of artwork. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvents such as this annual Gosford Art Prize, provide opportunities for both local and national artists to bring quality contemporary art to the Central Coast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Gosford Art Prize has evolved from its humble beginning in the 70s, to now be  recognised as a significant goal for artists to aim for,\u201d Mr Braham said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The winners of the other categories are: 
\u2022    Second Prize $5,000 Kim Fasher with artwork Missing Mythology
\u2022    Aboriginal Artist Prize $2,500 Ethan-James Kotiau – Gurrba – Fishing Net
\u2022    Gosford Ceramics Prize $2,500 Kelly Austin with artwork Stilled Composition

Highly Commended (three prizes of $1,000 each) are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n