The Manning Art Prize
The biennial Manning Art Prize, formerly known as The Walkom Manning Art Prize, commenced in 1990 and eight Art prizes where held between 1990 and 2007. All have generated considerable interest throughout the visual arts community and have featured entries from interstate, state and local area artists.
The Manning Art Prize has been credited by those involved as providing an important stimulus to the growth of excellence in the visual arts in the Manning Valley, as well as providing an opportunity to showcase the talents of participating artists.
The Art Prize remains a very effective partnership involving six different groups and organisations working towards a common outcome: The Friends of the Manning Regional Art Gallery who organise the Art Prize, the gallery volunteers who provide so freely of their time, the Art Gallery staff through their expertise, the participating artists, Greater Taree City Council which has increasingly recognised the importance of the stimulus provided to the continuing cultural growth of the community and, of course, our sponsors and donors who provide the financial support which enables the Art Prize to be awarded.
Special acknowledgement is extended to Dr Philip and Mrs Dusty Walkom, Gallery Patrons and major donors to the Art Prize, whose continuing support has enabled the Art Prize to grow and develop over the years since 1990.
The 2009 major prize winning work, 'Chickentown', a 2D mix media entry by artist Robert Mitchel is shown above. Works winning the major prize are acquisitive and donated by the Friends of the Gallery to the Greater Taree City Art Collection.