Anniversary edition of Open Art Awards

South East Art Society set to mark significant milestone in 2023

At its Open Art Awards in July, South East Art Society will celebrate 50 years since incorporation.

Past president of the society and life member Kevin Hein was president for seven years in the early days and filled in details of the society’s long history.

SEAS was founded by a group of enthusiasts in 1965 but incorporation in 1973 gave it legal status to administer its wide ranging interests.

Now 93 years old, Mr Hein is pictured above with Justin Clarke whose painting ‘Kobe’ won the 2022 Peoples’ Choice Award.

This year, the Open Art Awards should be really attractive to artists. For an entry fee of $25, their work will be on display for eight weeks in the prestigious Riddoch Arts and Cultural Centre.

The Major Prize has risen to $2000, thanks to an increase in sponsorship by Bendigo Community Bank and gold sponsors, Annette Bezor Estate, Dream to Create, Kimberly Clark and Phoenix Lending.

Artists of all media are encouraged to enter the Open Art Awards from now until June 23.

Entry forms are available on https://seas.org.au/annual-open-artawards/ or Facebook or [email protected].

The exhibition will be open to the public from July 8 to August 27.