Record number of artists enter Malka Aboriginal Art Prize

Feature image: Port Augusta Cultural Centre’s Malka Aboriginal Art Prize

Photo credits: Port Augusta Cultural Centre

Forty-four artists have entered the Port Augusta Cultural Centre’s Malka Aboriginal Art Prize this year which has beaten the previous record of 42 achieved last year.

Arts Officer, Ellenor Day, said the entries were slow to begin with but a last minute rush in the week leading up to the opening night saw the exhibition exceed all expectations.

“I was a bit nervous in the week leading up to the opening night but more than 15 entries came in on the closing date so in the end we had more than enough artwork to fill both of our gallery spaces.

“The Malka Aboriginal Art Prize has grown from a very small exhibition in 2010 to one of the largest and most popular exhibitions we put together each year,” she said.

The exhibition features both traditional and contemporary artwork from artists and students from right across the region including the communities of Port Augusta, Port Pirie, Port Lincoln, and Ceduna.

The exhibition is a firm favourite on the Port Augusta Cultural Centre – Yarta Purtli Gallery exhibition calendar with almost 200 people having already visited the exhibition since the opening night on Thursday 12 June.

The community can vote for their favourite artist in the Malka People’s Choice Award by visiting the exhibition before Saturday 12 July 1pm.  Judging for the all other prize categories will occur during NAIDOC Week (6-13 July) with winners announced the following week.

For further information about Country Arts SA’s Visual Arts program, click here.