From the Director - March 2025

Hello Everyone,

We are very excited to announce this year's Local Contemporary Art Prize finalists. The prize is one of the most anticipated exhibitions in our calendar. It is beloved by our local community, and is so highly regarded that people travel from Brisbane and further afield to see the show.

The prize was initiated by the Friends, Regional Gallery Caloundra and is now in it's 11th year. The Sunshine Coast National Art Prize had been running successfully for several years, so the Friends started thinking that we needed a prize to specifically celebrate our Sunshine Coast-based artists. They launched the Local Artist - Local Content Art Prize in 2104 and have been unbelievably good supporters since, securing sponsorship every year. We now offer a $10,000 Best in Show acquisitive prize, with a total of $17,000 in prize money. A big thank you to this year's sponsors: Sunshine Coast Council, Caloundra Regional Gallery, Mary Henzell Investments, Local Agent Caloundra, Community Bank Caloundra Bendigo Bank and Friends, Regional Gallery Caloundra.

Phillip Rolton | The Swimmer | 2024 | pen, ink and watercolour on paper | 83 x 123cm (framed)

Last year, we decided to take away the "local content" theme after discussions within the arts community about needing to include artists who don't necessarily focus on the local. This year we received over 200 entries and from that we had the difficult task of selecting 40 finalists. It's always an exciting day, sitting with the selection panel and reviewing all the entries. As usual, we had five people on the panel, so there was a lot of discussion, as everybody looks at artwork with a unique perspective.

We ended up with a really strong group of works this year and it will be a great show. It's a good mix of two-dimensional and three-dimensional, all highly skilled examples of their mediums. I think everybody will enjoy the range. There were a lot of landscapes entered this year, which I'm surprised by - people haven't moved away from landscapes, they seem to have come back to them. There are some amazing three-dimensional works along with some beautiful still lives, abstractions - there is a strong abstract scene on the coast - and some lovely traditional works as well. We were excited to see some newer artists throw their hat into the ring this year, alongside well-known names.

Erin Conron | Parallax Series, Sphere #1 | 2024 | blown and kiln-fired glass with applied enamel | 22 x 22 x 22cm

We are lucky to have the esteemed Claire Sourgnes, Director of Ipswich Art Gallery, as this year's guest judge. Claire has over 25 years' experience in the industry, both nationally and internationally. I can't wait to hear her impressions of the finalists and to see which works she selects as winners.

You can see all the finalist artworks now on the gallery website. But to see the work in the flesh is always fabulous, so make sure to plan a trip to the gallery — the exhibition will run from 11 April to 8 June. The official launch will be held on 10 April, 6pm, where the Best in Show, 2D Excellence and 3D Excellence Awards will be announced. Book your tickets now, as this event always sells out fast!

We will have a full schedule of public programs running alongside the exhibition, it is always exciting to have an opportunity to meet the artists. You might also like to check out the Local Student Art Prize 2025, which will be on display in the Artroom. The talent of our young ones is truly astounding.

About the prize

Launch tickets

Look forward to seeing you in the gallery…

Jo Duke
Gallery Director

Image credits: All images courtesy of the artist