By BRIDGET SCOTT
AN ART exhibition coming to Cardinia next month will be the first innovative art show in the area, according to its organiser.
With prizes of up to $16,000, the Grand Art Exhibition at Cardinia Cultural Centre from 21-23 February will be the first of its kind, with up to 15 different sections.
In previous years, the art show hosted by Provenance Artists Incorporated, has been held at Edrington Park Homestead, but as its popularity grew, the exhibition became too big for its Berwick-based location.
Event organiser and member of the artists group Calvin Bell said the exhibition had always been recognised as a premium art event in Victoria and of a professional gallery standard.
Mr Bell said the number of entries usually sat at the 300-mark, but members of the Provenance Artists Society were expecting entries to hit the 800-mark this year.
With entries set to close on 30 January, Mr Bell is hoping for more young people in the community to get involved and be in with the chance to win huge prize money.
The art show in February will have a select Anzac section, which Mr Bell is particularly excited about – he said this would be the first of its kind in Victoria.
Provenance Artists is a not-for-profit group of mainly Cardinia Shire residents.
Mr Bell said the show was one of a kind and had a section for every artist.
“It’s by artists, for artists, for the community,” he said.
With a big number of the artworks ready to go, viewers will recognise some familiar faces in a few of the works.
Mr Bell is excited for his show to display pieces submitted by people from not only all across Australia, but across the world, including artworks from Canada, the USA, Germany and France.
Mr Bell said he never expected the show to grow this big.
“We said we would put Cardinia on the art map of Victoria – never thinking we would go global,” he said.
To reserve a space, register by email at provenance@tpg.com.au.
