Excitement brewing for shire’s 23rd Arts Calendar

AFTER a challenging year for the arts community, creative minds from across the Surf Coast can look forward to exhibitions similar to before the pandemic began, following a high number of entries submitted for an ever-popular community competition.

The shire has again received a high number of submissions for the 23rd edition of the Surf Coast Shire Council’s Arts Calendar Competition, receiving 84 submissions for the event.

Artists were invited to enter in three categories for the competition being Open, 3D work, and Child/Youth.

Critiquing the entries will be a panel of judges set to select 12 winners, and a People’s Choice Award for the cover voted on by the audience.

The online exhibition launch for the competition will be held on Friday, October 15 at 6pm where the 12 winners will be announced.

The exhibition will run from Saturday, October 16 until Sunday, October 31 (10am until 4pm) at the Anglesea Art Space, adhering to the restrictions and COVIDSafe practices at the time.

With 16 per cent more entries submitted this year compared to 2020, Cr Rose Hodge said remnants of last year’s ‘the world at home’ theme is visible amongst the entries, despite artists being free to explore any theme this year.

“From seascapes to inspired tapestries, many of the pieces capture the beauty of the Surf Coast Shire and surrounds,” Cr Hodge said.

“People are still in a reflective space and it’s evident in their artwork. They’re documenting a historical moment in time within the shire, and we’re capturing it in our calendars.”

Cr Hodge emphasised the need for an in-person event like this in the near future, as COVID-19 restrictions are expected to peel back in the coming months and the Surf Coast Shire continues to exhibit extremely high vaccination rates.

“It’s been another challenging year for the arts community, with shows having to be pulled last minute, much to the dismay of both the artists and curators,” she said.

“We feel confident with the excellent rate of vaccination across the Surf Coast, we’re moving towards a time when we will get back to running exhibitions and arts events as before.”

The works can be viewed via surfcoastartstrail.com.au from 6pm on October 15, with an online voting option available for the People’s Choice Cover.