Dampier Art Awards calling for entries inspired by Pure theme in its 13th year

The Dampier Art Awards are on again, with City of Karratha locals challenged to enter their best creations inspired by this year’s theme of “Pure”.

The annual awards and exhibition run by the Dampier Community Association showcases emerging and seasoned talent from across the community, with categories open to artists as young as 14.

The grassroots competition has provided a launch pad for some of the Pilbara’s brightest talent and become an important fixture of the community calendar since it began in 2010.

Dampier Community Association president Gill Furlong said there were many ways to interpret this year’s theme.

“Is it pure intention, is it pure beauty, pure innocence or pure love?,” she said.

“We hope there is a lot of inspiration across a lot of different areas of life for our artists — whether it is looking at nature, or looking at a person, or looking at an event in their lives that inspires their art.”

There are eight categories to enter, including youth for ages 14 to 18, Indigenous, abstract, Pilbara landscape, portrait and 3D art.

Entries will be displayed at a free exhibition at the Dampier Community Hall from March 25 to April 16 and virtually on the DCA’s website.

Last year’s event attracted 105 entries from 73 local artists, with more than 500 visitors flocking to the hall to enjoy the exhibition.

This year’s competition will be judged by Exmouth-based multidisciplinary artist Chris Hancock. The people’s choice award will be voted on by the public.

Ms Furlong said many great artists from across the region had got their start at the awards.

“It’s often the first time that artists exhibit their work and you have to be very brave I think to exhibit your personal work in any exhibition,” she said.

“So it is nice to have this smaller, grassroots awards that gives them confidence to then go on to some of the bigger awards like the Cossack Art Awards and the Jury Art Prize up in Hedland.”

Ms Furlong said the Dampier Community Association was looking for more volunteers to keep the exhibition open.

Entries close on February 19 and the awards opening night will be on March 24.

For more information, visit the dampier.org.au/dampier-art-awards.