Entries for Tasmania’s premiere portraiture prize nearing final brush strokes

Last year’s winner, Alex Davern untitled solitude

With just under a month left to get entries in for the RACT Insurance Tasmanian Portraiture Prize
(TPP), renowned portraiture artist and this year’s chief judge, Robert Hannaford, is urging
Tasmanians to submit their entries on time.

Mr Hannaford said Tasmania was one of his favourite states in Australia and was looking forward to
visiting, with excitement building at the opportunity to view and judge the works of the state’s
young aspiring artists.

“Portraiture prizes, such as the TPP, are incredibly important as they bring public attention to the
genre while also recognising young aspiring artists and giving them the start they need in their
careers,” Mr Hannaford said.

“While I am looking forward to judging this year’s entries, I am also excited to be spending some
extended time in the state and taking the opportunity to paint some of the magnificent landscapes
on offer.
“One of my most famous portraiture pieces of Bob Brown, which was selected as a finalist for the
Archibald Prize in 2005, is now stored and exhibited at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery on
occasion.”

Mr Hannaford will be joined on the judging panel by Curator of the Tasmanian Museum and Art
Gallery (TMAG) Jane Stewart as well last year’s TPP winner Alex Davern.

RACT Insurance CEO Trent Sayers said the TPP celebrated the diversity of Tasmania’s emerging
artists and presented an opportunity for the public to show its appreciation of some of our most
talented individuals.

“Last year we had an amazing show of support from the Tasmanian community and we are hoping
people from across the state get along to see the work on exhibition in their region,” Mr Sayers
said.

“The TPP is truly a community-oriented prize, with entrants producing a portrait of a Tasmanian
who is important to them, accompanied by a statement explaining why and how this person has
inspired their work.

“The overall aim of the competition is to foster the development of young Tasmanian artists and I
am excited to see this year’s entries, with the public exposure and prize money providing an
opportunity to launch their professional careers.”

Mr Sayers said the winner of the RACT Insurance TPP would receive $5,000 and a trip for two to the
Archibald Prize exhibition in Sydney, while the runner-up would receive $2,000 to assist with studio
rent.

“We will also again have the Sponsor’s Choice Award and the coveted People’s Choice Award, each
with a prize of $500 to assist in furthering the artist’s career,” he said.

Now entering its seventh 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.

Entries for the RACT Insurance Tasmanian Portraiture Prize close on Monday, 30 June, 2014. This
year the exhibition will feature in the Hobart’s Long Gallery, Launceston’s Sawtooth Gallery and the
Burnie Regional Gallery. For more information visit www.taspp.com.au
RACT Insurance CEO Trent Sayers