Introduction

1. The Experimental Print Prize is a printmaking award and exhibition conducted by the Castlemaine Art Museum. The Experimental Print Prize was initiated and funded by a generous donation from Michael Rigg to the Castlemaine Art Museum. The value of the award is $10,000 (First Prize), $5,000 (Highly Commended) and $3,000 (Emerging Artist Award). When submitting your entry, please consider how it explores the theme of experimentation and how it will be installed as part of the exhibition, as pinning into the walls is not possible.

Eligibility

2. The award is open to all artists residing in Victoria (Australian citizens or permanent residents).

3. If a participant is aged less than 18 years, they may only enter the Experimental Print Prize 2023 with the consent of a parent/guardian. Please ask your parent or guardian to complete the parental consent form when you submit your entry online and email to: anna.schwann@castlemaineartmuseum.org.au. Please read the information contained in the Terms and Conditions and in this Parental Consent Form carefully before completion.

If you are under 18, the Promoter will not attribute the Artwork to you, or use your name or photograph in any way, unless the Promoter has obtained consent to do so from your parent or legal guardian.

4. Employees of Castlemaine Art Museum, the organisers, the judges and members of their immediate family are ineligible to enter.

Submitting an Entry

5. Entrants may submit for consideration one artwork executed after 1 January 2021. The work must be the original work of the artist. The work must not exceed 2 metres in any direction including frame. The work must be ready for display, with appropriate fittings, and clearly marked with the Artist’s name, address and title of work.

6. Digital images should be no more than 2 megabytes (mb), saved as jpegs and able to be opened on PC format. Jpegs must be saved with the following details as the file name: Artist First Name_Artist Surname_Title_Year.jpeg
(Example: Jane_Smith_Print_2023.jpeg). Physical slides, printed photographs, photocopied reproductions or any other representations of the work will not be accepted for consideration.

7. Entry fee is $35 incl. GST per entered work. Entry fee is non-refundable and covers administration and handling. Any entry not accompanied by payment of entry fee will be ineligible. Payment may be made via PayPal account or credit card (via PayPal). A receipt will not be mailed unless requested.

8. All entries must be submitted by 11:59pm Sunday, 23 July 2023. Entries must be submitted via the online form. Entries received after 11:59pm Sunday, 23 July will not be accepted. Entries must consist of a digital image, completed entry form and payment of entry fee.

Exhibition of Finalists

9. An award exhibition of shortlisted finalists will be held at Castlemaine Art Museum, 14 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine, Victoria from Friday 15 September 2023 to Sunday 28 January 2024. The official opening will be held on Friday 15 September and winners will be announced at this event. Shortlisted finalists will be invited and are encouraged to attend.

10. Works chosen for the exhibition of finalists will be pre-selected from digital images submitted along with an entry form.

11. All artists will be informed of pre-selection outcome during the week of 9 August. The Castlemaine Art Museum will retain selected artists’ visual material until the close of the exhibition. At this time, pre-selected artists may be requested to provide a brief biography and artist statement pertaining to the work.

12. Works selected for exhibition must be delivered to the Castlemaine Art Museum between 26–31 August (between 12pm and 4pm). Works must be delivered to the Gallery no later than 4pm Thursday 31 August. Works will be stored at the Gallery until the installation of the exhibition and remain on display throughout the exhibition period. After the exhibition, artists are responsible for the collection of their work between 1–4 February 2024 (during gallery open hours).

13. Freight of artwork. Artists are responsible for the delivery and collection of their artwork from the Castlemaine Art Museum. Artwork will not be accepted unless delivered and returned free of all freight and other charges. If an artist should fail or omit to remove or collect their work from 1–4 February 2024, the Gallery will send a notice via email to the artist, at the last known address, of its intention to sell or otherwise dispose of such work, or in the event of no address being known to the Gallery, then one month after advertising such notice of intention via Castlemaine Art Museum’s social media networks, may sell or dispose of such work. After deducting the incidental costs of the sale, the balance will be held for the artist. Provided however, that in the event of such work being in the opinion of the Gallery unsaleable, then the Gallery may in lieu of selling the same, destroy or otherwise dispose in such a manner as it may deem fit and thereafter the gallery shall be under no liability whatever to the artist in respect of any work so destroyed or disposed of. All care will be taken; however, the gallery will not be responsible for any loss or damage caused. Freight and insurance are the responsibility of the artist.

14. All works must be well packed and clearly labelled with artist’s name, address, title of work, and clear installation requirements and/or instructions included. Works must be packed in such a way that the work can be unpacked efficiently and repacked in the same way for return at the end of the exhibition. It is intended that the works selected will be shown in exhibition at the Gallery. Should space prevent the display of work, the Gallery will advise the entrant.

15. All entries selected for the exhibition must be available for continuous display at the Gallery for the period of the exhibition. Artists and/or representatives cannot remove an artwork from display prior to 28 January 2024. All artwork must be collected no later than 4 February 2024 unless return postage or alternate delivery at the artists cost is specified.

16. The Gallery will not be responsible for any loss or damage suffered to any work in its possession or under its control and each entrant shall indemnify the Gallery against loss or damage suffered to his or her work. Works will not be insured by the Gallery.

17. The Gallery will not be responsible for the sale of artworks during the exhibition period. Any enquiries regarding sale of work will be directed to the artist and/or dealer. Contact details of the gallery/dealer must be provided on your entry form.

18. Artists selected for exhibition will allow their works to be reproduced in print and electronic media in the advertising and promotion of the exhibition and in any catalogue, publication or merchandise connected with the exhibition. The Gallery reserves the right to reproduce the winning entry in publications in relation to the Award.

Selection of the Winning Artwork

19. The judges of the award are Beverly Knight and Richard Harding, with non-voting Chair Naomi Cass.

20. The judge will select one winning work for each category $10,000 (First Prize), $5,000 (Highly Commended) and $3,000 (Emerging Artist Award) from the exhibition of finalists. The judge reserves the right not to select any work if works are not, in their opinion of sufficient merit. The Gallery has the right to refuse to
display any entry.

21. The judge’s decision will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Privacy of Information

22. All personal information gathered by the Gallery will be used solely for the purpose of administering the Award. Visit www.castlemainegallery.com/epp2023 for further details.

IMPORTANT DATES

Entries Open: 4 April 2023
Entries Close: 23 July 2023
Selected Finalists Notified: Mid August
Finalists to Deliver Work to Castlemaine Art Museum: From 26 – 31 August (Between 12pm and 4pm)
Exhibition Dates: 15 September 2023 – 28 January 2024
Official Opening and Announcement of Prizes: 15 September 2023
Announcement of People’s Choice: 28 January 2024
Collection of Works: 1 – 4 February 2024 (Between 12pm and 4pm)