The annual search for Tasmania’s most talented emerging portraiture artist is just days from conclusion,
with entries for the 2013 RACT Insurance Tasmanian Portraiture Prize (TPP) closing on Sunday, 30
June.

Now entering its sixth year, the TPP was established to create a platform for emerging Tasmanian artists
to exhibit their talents, while also developing a body of portraiture that reflects life in 21st century
Tasmania. The prize is open to artists across many disciplines, with past recipients coming from fields
such as digital media, painting and photography.

RACT Insurance CEO Trent Sayers said the calibre of this year’s entries was as strong as ever, and he
expected judges to be in for a tough job.

“If the entries we’ve already received are any indication, art in Tasmania is as strong as it has ever
been,” Mr Sayers said.

“The quality and innovation just keeps on improving year after year.

“In 2012, our winner was a film for the first time and it will be interesting to see how the judges interpret
some of the pieces in this year’s collection.

“The resurgence of Tasmanian art over the past few years has been remarkable, and festivals such as
MONA FOMA, Ten Days on the Island and Dark MoFo show just how important art is to this State.”

Mr Sayers said the 2013 TPP winner would receive $5,000 in prize money and a trip for two to the
Archibald Prize exhibition in Sydney, with this year’s second prize also increasing from $500 to $2,000 to
assist with studio rent.

“Entrants produce an original piece of a living Tasmanian who is important to them, along with a written
statement explaining their work,” he said.

“The prize money and publicity could really help to launch an emerging artist’s career, and we are
looking forward to seeing the winning entries on display later this year.”

TPP sketchbooks can be found in cafes across Hobart and Launceston, designed to encourage patrons
to ‘let their inner artist out’.

Entries for the 2013 RACT Insurance Tasmanian Portraiture Prize close on Sunday, 30 June 2013. For
more information, visit www.taspp.com.au or ‘like’ the Tasmanian Portraiture Prize on Facebook.
RACT Insurance CEO Trent Sayers