Shortlist for 2012 Victorian Indigenous Art Awards

The Victorian Indigenous Art Awards, now in their 7th year of running, aim to commend the work of Indigenous artists in Victoria and showcase the unique nature of south-east Australian Aboriginal art.

"There are many voices and many generations of Indigenous artists in Victoria working to uphold traditions and to express their culture in new and distinct ways," Premier and Minister for the Arts Ted Baillieu said.

"The shortlisted artists work across a variety of mediums, from traditional painting and weaving techniques to photography, sculpture, video and street art."

The awards will give prizes in five different categories and are open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists who live in Victoria.

The categories are as follows: the Deadly Art Award ($25,000), the Koorie Heritage Trust Acquisition Award ($5,000), CAL Victorian Indigenous Art Award for Three Dimensional Works ($5,000), CAL Victorian Indigenous Art Award for Works on Paper ($5,000) and Arts Victoria People’s Choice Award ($2,500).

Of the 27 shortlisted entries, both regional and metropolitan artists were represented, several of which have never been shortlisted before. Finalists were selected by an expert judging panel which included Aboriginal artist Dr Treahna Hamm, Torres Strait Islander artist Clinton Nain, and Jason Smith, Director of Heide Museum of Art.

The winners of all awards will be announced on March 9th with a finalist exhibition opening to the public from March 10th-31st at fortyfivedownstairs Gallery at Flinders Lane in Melbourne.

A list of all finalists can be found here.