Yvonne Gray, Olivia and Di Grigson, and other locals at the Wheatbelt Art Prize opening night at Cummins Theatre in Merredin.
Camera IconYvonne Gray, Olivia and Di Grigson, and other locals at the Wheatbelt Art Prize opening night at Cummins Theatre in Merredin. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Wheatbelt artists show off

Sophie Gabrielle, Avon Valley GazetteHills Avon Valley Gazette

The 2013 Wheatbelt Art Prize attracted 128 entries, including work from students at Merredin College, Northam Senior High School and Bruce Rock District High School.

Merredin artist Anne Sutherland won the major prize of $1500 for a Wheatbelt scene titled Good Night.

The Young Artist category was split into three awards.

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Overall Young Artist Award went to Emma-Lee Maher from Northam Senior High School for her painting Hope, and Encouragement Awards were presented to Angela Stanfield from Northam Senior High School and Benjamin Siddons from Merredin College.

Central Wheatbelt MP Mia Davies was host for the night and said she was delighted with the turnout.

‘The creativity, imagination and enthusiasm with which our Wheatbelt artists embraced the event is wonderful,’ Ms Davies said. ‘Arts play a significant and often underestimated role in maintaining vibrant, well balanced regional communities.’

Ms Davies said the Nationals had been working closely with groups such as Country Arts WA, Community Arts Network WA and WA Music Industry on policy to better support arts and cultural experiences in regional WA.

‘We know that culture and the arts are vital to regional communities, and form an essential part of our social fabric, sense of being and cultural identity,’ she said.