Invitation to host the Gallipoli Art Prize National Tour

Glen Preece

The Gallipoli Memorial Club will be conducting a travelling Gallipoli Art Prize National Tour of 20 artworks throughout Australia commencing from August 2015 to take place over the next two years to commemorate the Anzac Centenary.

Established in 2005, the annual Gallipoli Art Prize is awarded to the work that best expresses the Gallipoli Club’s ‘creed’ – “We believe that within the community there exists an obligation for all to preserve the special qualities of loyalty, respect, love of country, courage and comradeship which were personified by the heroes of the Gallipoli Campaign and bequeathed to all humanity as a foundation of perpetual peace and universal freedom.” Australian, New Zealand and Turkish artists are invited to interpret the creed as it relates to any armed conflict in which Australia has been involved.

Judged each year by John McDonald (writer and art critic for The Sydney Morning Herald), Jane Watters (Director, S.H. Ervin Gallery, Sydney) and Barry Pearce (former Head Curator of Australian Art, AGNSW) the Gallipoli Art Prize attracts entries from a broad range of professional and amateur artists. “On the eve of the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign this year’s Gallipoli Art Prize has attracted its largest ever number of entries, including a higher percentage of works by professional artists. This doesn’t mean the professionals are judged more leniently than the amateurs but it suggests the Prize is being taken seriously in art circles,” says Gallipoli Art Prize judge and art critic John McDonald. Also established in 2005, the Canakkale Art Prize is awarded in Turley. The competition terms and conditions are similar to those for the Gallipoli Art Prize.

The collection of finalist works vary greatly in subject matter and the emotions they evoke – each entry tells a different and often personal story, accompanied by heartfelt commentaries from each artist about their painting. More information on the Gallipoli Art Prize can be found on the website

This Gallipoli Art Prize is a significant Australian initiative and artwork exhibition, and as such will create a ground swell of awareness of the Centenary at modest cost for an extensive period of time.  It will provide a unique opportunity for communities to be actively involved in the Centenary commemorations..

Please click here for a listing of Artists and  sample of artworks that will go on the tour. Please note – that as this prize is conducted in Australia for Australian and New Zealand artists, a similar prize is conducted in Turkey to reflect the ANZAC spirit. As such, a selection of Turkish art winners will also be on display with the exhibition. The final 2015 winner has yet to be announced, this is conducted just prior to Anzac Day each year, and will also be included in the touring artworks.

The Gallipoli Art Prize Tour, at this stage,the exhibition will travel to Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT and we are offering galleries the opportunity to host the exhibition during 2015 – 2018.

The cost to receive the tour would be $1000.00 (ex GST), this will include catalogues, educational resources and freight costs.

Also the 2015 Gallipoli Art Prize ($20 000 acquisitional)  entries are now open, information can be found here Please circulate to artists that may be interested in entering. It’s a great opportunity.

If you have any questions or would like to exhibit the Gallipoli Art Prize Exhibition please click here for contact details.