SHORT-LISTED NATIONAL EMERGING INDIGENOUS ARTISTS ANNOUNCED

Arts Minister Rod Welford today announced the nine artists short-listed for the second national Xstrata Coal Emerging Indigenous Art Award.

They are: Genevieve Grieves, (Sydney, NSW), Adam Hill (Sydney, NSW), Netta Loogatha (Mornington Island, Qld), Wanyubi Marika (Yirrkala, NT), Abe Muriata (Tully/Murray Upper, Qld), Irenie Ngalinba (Maningrida, NT), Phyllis Ningamarra (Kununurra, WA), Yhonnie Scarce (Adelaide, SA), and Christine Yukenbarri (Great Sandy Desert, WA).

“This award promotes talented emerging Indigenous artists and contributes to the Queensland Art Gallery’s strong support of contemporary Indigenous art,” Mr Welford said.

“The winner will be announced on 3 August and an exhibition of the short-listed works will be displayed at the Gallery of Modern Art from 4 August to 11 November.”

The annual award, first held last year, was established by the Queensland Art Gallery and Xstrata Coal with a prize of $30,000 and with the winning work acquired by the Gallery.

Queensland Art Gallery Acting Director Andrew Clark said the selection committee considered emerging urban, regional and remote community-based artists from throughout Australia, working across all media.

“This year the exhibition includes a great diversity of practice, including glass, video, photography, woven forms and painting,” Mr Clark said.

As part of the award, Xstrata Coal provides a $50,000 annual grant for the acquisition of the works for the Gallery’s Xstrata Coal Indigenous Art Collection.

Xstrata Coal Chief Executive Peter Coates said the award was a key part of Xstrata Coal’s Corporate Social Involvement program, which in 2007 has contributed $3.7million towards social initiative partnerships in New South Wales and Queensland.

“This award is an exciting opportunity for new artists to have their work nationally recognised and underlines our commitment to engage with Indigenous communities,” Mr Coates said.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985