• Arts and wellbeing
• Visual arts touring
• Performing arts touring
• Branching Out
• Material Girl
• Tasmanian Youth Portraiture Prize
• RAA Volunteer Awards

Tasmanian Youth Portraiture Prize

The objective of the award is to foster the development of young Tasmanian artists and provide an opportunity for the public to appreciate the talents of Tasmania's youth.

Tasmanian artists aged 30 and under are invited to paint a portrait of a living Tasmanian who is important to them. An artist statement describing the inspiration and meaning behind the artwork is also submitted.

As well as an opportunity to exhibit their works in a professional exhibition the award offers the following prizes.

• The winner will receive $5,000 and a trip for two to the Archibald Prize exhibition in Sydney
• The runner-up receives $500
• The sponsors' choice receives $500
• The people's choice receives $500
  

2008 Overall Winner, 'Self Portrait with Cow near Richmond' by Hilton Owen

2009 Overall Winner, 'Fin' by Nathan Grey

TRA President Lee Cole, City of Brisbane's Jill Prentice, and RACTI CEO Trent Sayers pictured above at the 2009 ABAF Awards function at Brisbane's City Hall. Over 1,000 people attended the function, including Arts Minister Peter Garrett and Australia Council Chairman James Strong.

Youth Portraiture prize wins national ABAF Award in 2009

In 2009 RACT Insurance and Tasmanian Regional Arts went one better than 2008 when the Tasmanian Youth Portraiture prize project won the Australian Business and Arts Foundation City of Brisbane Encouragement Award for new arts/business partnerships.

In 2008 RACT insurance and TRA were finalists in this national award category, and it is fair comment that both organisations are very pleased in being recognised for the significance of the project in promoting the work of emerging Tasmanian visual artists.

Thanks go to all staff, judges and to particpating artists in the 2009 Tasmanina Youth Portraiture Prize. You all contibuted to the exhibition's success.
Artists with an interest in portraiture should start planning to enter the 2010 exhibition, details of which will be posted to the Tasmanian Youth Portraiture Prize website in early 2010.

To find out more about this great Tasmanian arts project, visit the official Tasmanian Youth Portraiture Prize website here