MONA Curator joins portraiture prize to reward young artistic talent in Tasmania

With Tasmania currently being recognised internationally as a hub of cultural and artistic activities,
MONA Curator, Jarrod Rawlins (above) has been named one of the three judges set to review Tasmania’s
up and coming young artists in the 2015 RACT Insurance Tasmanian Portraiture Prize (TPP).

MONA Curator Jarrod Rawlins will be joined on the 2015 TPP judging panel by accomplished
Tasmanian printmaker and artist Barbie Kjar, as well as last year’s prize winner Cameron McRae.

RACT Insurance CEO Trent Sayers said now in its eighth year, the premier art prize continued to
encourage the state’s youth to partake in the art resurgence happening across Tasmania.

“The TPP aims to foster the development and passion of young Tasmanian artists, as well as
providing them with an opportunity to launch their professional careers and place their work on
public exhibition for the wider Tasmanian community to appreciate,” Mr Sayers said.

“In order to enter the prize, Tasmanians aged under 30 are asked to paint a portrait of someone
who is important to them, as well as provide a statement explaining why and how this person
inspired their creative piece.

“The portraits can be submitted in any medium, with last year’s 78 entrants submitting works in a
wide range of mediums including photographs, oils, acrylics, graphite, watercolours, print and
animation on paper.”

Mr Sayers said RACT Insurance was proud to support young aspiring artists in Tasmania as well as
adding to the state’s artistic resurgence through the prize, and was thrilled to have such an
inspiring judging panel to review the entries.

“It’s very rewarding to encourage young Tasmanian talent and to see where entering the prize
takes each entrant in the future,” he said.

“Each year the number of entrants continues to grow and we look forward to seeing what talent
this year’s entries reveal.”

The winner of the 2015 RACT Insurance Tasmanian Portraiture Prize will receive $5,000 and a trip
for two to the Archibald Prize exhibition in Sydney, while the runner-up will receive $2,000 to assist
with studio rent.

Entries are now open for the 2015 RACT Insurance Tasmanian Portraiture Prize, closing on 30 June,
2015. This year the exhibition will feature in Hobart’s Long Gallery, Launceston’s Sawtooth ARI
Gallery and the Devonport Regional Art Gallery.

For more information, visit www.taspp.com.au or call Kylie Eastley on 0439 262 344.
Lucinda Szczypior, Font PR