LANDSCAPE painters will honour a former Darlington resident and one of the most celebrated artists in WA.
Darlington Arts Festival is celebrating the life of Robert (Bob) Juniper with a major new award in his name.
The Robert Juniper landscape art prize is open for submissions and offers a $10,000 award to the winner.
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READ NOWCo-ordinator Chris Pemberton said the art prize had the support of Juniper’s widow Trish and would provide a significant addition to WA’s funding for landscape artists.
UWA cultural officer Ted Snell and Marlene Stafford, a past chair of the Foundation of the State Gallery of WA, have accepted an invitation to judge the competition.
Mr Pemberton said entries for the art prize close on September 30.
Darlington Arts Festival president Peter Nicholls said Juniper was one of Darlington’s favourite sons.
“We are very grateful to Trish Juniper and proud that the festival, through this prize, will further perpetuate Bob’s memory.”
The Darlington Arts Festival in November started as a fundraising event for the local bush fire brigade and is now in its 53rd year.
Many of WA’s leading artists, including Juniper, lived and worked in Darlington and donated works and considerable support to the cause.
The festival on the village oval grew to a weekend of art exhibitions, stalls and entertainment, and attracts up to 12,000 visitors each year.
The art shows include a retrospective exhibition of a renowned hills artist and this year the work of Hans Arkeveld will be on display.
Hills’ artists will also contribute to an open art exhibition and this year’s theme is A Sense of Community.
For more, visit www.darlingtonartsfestival.org .