Art Sculpture Competition

Calling all artists, whether budding or professional, local or from afar, to take part in our exciting new Art Sculpture Competition.  Winners will be announced as part of the Festival Program with all entries taking pride of place on our Art Trail connecting the historic Coolibah Tree with the Showgrounds and Recreational Lake.

Here in the Flinders Shire, we love to tell a yarn or two through art.  Sculptures play an important role in our story telling journey and you can see through our public art pieces sprinkled through the community.  We are asking that entrants use the themes of the Flinders Shire as the inspiration for their sculptures.

With a total prize pool of $13000 – you’d be mad not to chuck your hat in the ring!

Entries for 2024 COMPETITION now open

Entries open until April 21, 2024.

Terms and Conditions

This competition is run by the Flinders Shire Council and calls for public artworks to be displayed at the Hughenden Festival of Outback Skies (3 – 5 May 2024). Entrants have the opportunity to be considered for one of two prizes available – a $10,000 Acquisitive Prize and a $3,000 People’s Choice.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Submission Dates:  Open until April 21, 2024.

Exhibition Dates: May 3rd – May 5th, 2024 

Eligible Media: 3D Sculpture – Sculptures are to be three (3) dimensional and free standing. Artworks must withstand climatic elements, e.g. heat, rain and wind.

Selection Results: The Acquisitive prize winner – will be notified of their win via a public announcement on the main stage on Saturday, May 4. The time of announcement will be found in the Festival program.

The People’s Choice winner – will be notified via a public announcement on the Lake stage on Sunday, May 5. The time of announcement will be found in the Festival program.

Winners will also be announced on Facebook.

Artwork Drop-off: All accepted artwork must be installed from 6:00AM – 10:00AM on May 3, 2024. 

Artwork Pick-up: Monday, May 6, from 6:00 AM – 10:00AM. Artwork must be collected no later than 10:00AM.

GUIDELINES

• Entry is open to all local, interstate, and international artists.
• The winner of the Acquisitive Prize is not eligible to win the People’s Choice Award.
• The $10,000 AUD Acquisitive Prize money will procure the winning sculptural artwork to be utilised as part of the community’s permanent Public Art Collection.
• Artworks entered by the Artist must be the original work and concept of the Artist. An Artist may enter as many as three (3) artworks, at most five years old and not shown in previous Festival of the Outback Skies.
• Artworks must be a 3D Sculpture – Sculptures must be three (3) dimensional and free standing. Artworks must withstand climatic elements, e.g., heat, rain, and wind.
• A third party may not enter any works on behalf of an Artist. Group proposals will be accepted, and a nominated contact will act as the Artwork contact.
• Artists must allow their work to be reproduced for promotional, review, and educational purposes and the future promotion of the Festival of the Outback Skies.
• The cost of freighting and insurance to and from the festival for artwork/s will be the responsibility of the Artist.
• The Flinders Shire Council will not accept any additional charges for the prizes.
• Only on-time and complete entries will be accepted.
• The Acquisitive Prize money is $10,000 AUD.
• The People’s Choice Award of $3,000 AUD is non-acquisitive.
• The judge’s decision will be final, and correspondence regarding the selection will not be entered.
• Artists must consider their artwork’s features and risk to public safety before submitting an entry.
• Artists or representatives must complete an online induction before installing their artwork/s.

CONDITIONS & REQUIREMENTS

INSURANCE AND INDEMNITY

• The Artist agrees that the artwork is exhibited at their own risk. Flinders Shire Council will exercise all reasonable care of your artworks but will not be responsible for any loss or damage whilst in their custody or on public display.
• Artists are advised to hold their own insurance coverage against loss, damage, theft, and possible destruction of the artwork for the exhibition period, including Freighting to and from the festival space, time of installation and time of pick-up.
• Artists can access affordable Public Liability Insurance as part of NAVA’s Premium Plus membership. For further information, visit https://visualarts.net.au/shop/products/premium-plus/
  • Note: Seek your own insurance service should NAVA not be suitable to the Artist in any way.
• The Flinders Shire Council is not responsible for theft or damage to the Artist’s work during the festival.

ARTWORK SALES

It is not a requirement that artworks be for sale during the festival. However, if your art is for sale, the advertised price of exhibited works for sale and artworks shall remain fixed for the festival duration.

INSTALLATION AND DE-INSTALLATION OF ARTWORK

• Artists or their representatives are responsible for installing and de-installing artworks at the designated times chosen within the entry form.
• Sites along the sculpture trail where artworks are to be installed/ de-installed are determined to be worksites, and therefore, all artists or their representatives installing/de-installing must complete the Flinders Shire Council’s workplace induction before arrival on site. (This will be emailed to entrants in due time.)
• There will be a Site Manager for the Festival of the Outback Skies. The Site Manager will assist Artists with their installation location. On arrival, the Artist or their representative shall notify the Site Manager.
• All Artists or their representatives must sign into the work site on arrival to install/de-install their artwork. Artists must wait for approval from the Site Manager before beginning installation/de-installation.
• Artists are asked to consider ease of installation and de-installation.
• Artists are also asked to bring their own tools and installation materials.
• The Artist must ensure that artwork installation does not impact or damage the natural environment and that artwork foundations can withstand potential high winds, rain, etc. 

Artwork Drop-off: All accepted artwork must be installed from 6:00AM – 10:00AM on May 3, 2024.

Artwork Pick-up: Monday, May 6, 2024, from 6:00 AM – 10:00AM. Artwork must be collected no later than 10:00AM.

APPLICATION RESERVATIONS

Council reserves the right at any time to:

• Accept, reject, or exclude any entry
• Select one or more respondents to enter negotiations or submit further proposals to the Flinders Shire Council.
• Accept all or part of any entry. 
• Move or remove any artwork at their discretion and for any reason, including but not limited to public safety, damage, or potential damage.

For further information contact our Arts & Culture Community Development Officer, Mel Eriksen on (07) 4741 2900.