Home Hills' highly popular Canefields Ephemera Art Competition upped the ante this year, increasing the first place cash prize significantly from $1500 to an impressive $5000.
This sum does not include the People's Choice Award of $500, bestowed on the artist who receives the most votes on social media, bringing the total amount up for grabs to $5500, a grand jackpot sure to stir the competitive spirit of many artists.
This escalation is a reflection of the competition's evolution from a small community event to a major regional art showcase which will likely lead to a sharp increase in the pressure felt by the creative competitors.
Founded in 2017 and held annually as a component of Home Hill Harvest Festival, the Ephemera transforms Lloyd Mann Gardens into an open air art gallery from late September through to early November, providing a stunning spectacle for locals.
Artists display large scale pieces designed specifically to withstand exposure to harsh environmental conditions such as heat, strong winds and rain. The pieces are intended to be ephemeral, temporary dwellers of the garden, however some do end up becoming permanent residents such as the white question mark sculpture, the sardine can and the white arrow.
From 2017 until now local participation has grown significantly attracting artists from all corners of North Queensland.
The festival itself dates back to 1963, originally a celebration of the sugarcane harvest and Burdekin's agricultural heritage.
Community involvement is critical with festival goers encouraged to vote for their favourite artworks through social media, with the winner of the grand prize being determined by an anonymous assortment of judges who assess the entrees on originality, material use, viability, and overall visual impact.
The upping of the stakes is a symbol not only of the magnified prestige of the competition but also of the Burdekin community’s enduring commitment to uplifting local creativity and culture through this unique and ever evolving medium.
What: Home Hill Harvest Festival/ Canefield Ephemera Art Competition
Where: Lloyd Mann Gardens
When: 8th September to 9th of November
Katya Venter, a talented artist and art teacher from Townsville, claimed the top prize in the prestigious local sculpture competition last year. photo supplied
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