By Tania Phillips
The volunteers at Stanthorpe Regional Gallery have been kept busy in recent weeks hanging one of the biggest and most important exhibitions of the year.
Almost a 1000 art works went on display this year as part of the annual Crisp Youth Art Prize.
The work came from students from local Stanthorpe and district students across all of the local schools and of ages from Kindy/Prep right through to Year 12 and brought in members of the community who might not usually get to the gallery – busy mums and dads.
Gallery Director Mary Findlay says the awards – now in it’s 33rd year thanks to the generous support of the Crisp family – is definitely one of the highlights of the year.
“We have a national biannual $50,000 art prize which is huge for a regional gallery but its come to my mind now that the Crisp Art Prize is one of the most important exhibitions of the year,” she explained.
“We have it every year – the Crisp family are philanthropists from way back and have supported a lot of things in this community. Most importantly is the art prize that they do every year.
“The reason I think it’s really important is that the voice of children is really important, we need to hear these voices and the way we can hear them is through art. We get young people drawing and painting and being exhibited – young people who have never had that done before but they are having that done during their school life.”
She said it was also important for succession for the gallery.
“It helps us to attract a different demographic – people who may never think to come in the gallery because they are really busy with young families,” Mary explained.
“But they come in and they always really enjoy it and it’s another thing that families can do together – it’s free.”
This year’s theme was Our Community My Place which built on 2020’s Earth, Air, Fire and Water – asking about their experiences with the Covid lockdown, Drought and Fires.”
While last year was profound and moving Mary said this year’s art works were uplifting. Next year’s event is already being planned and will celebrate 150 years of Stanthorpe.
