In 2023, the City of Subiaco’s Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists comes of age.
The City is seeking budding artists to take part in its youth art award, marking twenty-one years of this prestigious award.
The award encourages imagination and creativity in young people with its patron, Perth-born artist and Academy Award winner Shaun Tan, placing much importance on these qualities in his own artistic practice.
In Shaun’s words, “Local art awards were always a big deal for me growing up in suburban Perth, not for prizes or competition, but as a place to send paintings and drawings – and a reason to actually finish things! – and sometimes receive positive feedback.
“I’m proud to have worked with Subiaco Library over two decades to offer a similar experience to students across WA, reminding all young artists that they need not feel alone, or without an appreciative audience. Most of all, that when we draw or paint, we discover much about our own thoughts and feelings, we enlarge ourselves and our sense of the world around us.”
For twenty years the premise behind the Shaun Tan Award has remained consistent – to give young people a place to submit and showcase their work. Over the years, some incredible artwork has been exhibited as part of the awards’ annual exhibition at Subiaco Library.
Now, in 2023, the awards are building on this premise by creating hybrid art workshops, based at the award’s home in Subiaco Library and available electronically to regional schools and libraries across WA. The Art in April workshops will be led by
Shaun E Avery,
Tyrown Waigana and
Kelly Canby.
Mayor David McMullen said, “The City is excited to work with some of WA’s most exciting artists and illustrators to deliver our Art in April workshops. Each session will teach new skills, helping to develop young artists and give them an opportunity to extend their ability and learn something new in advance of submitting their entries to the Shaun Tan Award.
“We’re always looking for ways to innovate and champion young talent in the state and these awards are at the forefront of this.”
Entries for the 2023 award open on Friday 28 April and Western Australian school students in years one to twelve are invited to submit an original, two-dimensional visual art creation. Entries will be judged on technique, originality of concept and choice of materials by a panel of local artists, illustrators and educators.
Finalists will be recognised at a presentation ceremony, where prizes will be awarded on behalf of the City of Subiaco and award sponsors. The top 50 artworks will then go on display at Subiaco Library.
Entries open on Friday 28 April, 9.30am and close on Monday 22 May, 5.30pm. For more, visit www.subiaco.wa.gov.au/shauntanaward.