LEN FOX PAINTING PRIZE 2022

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The Len Fox Painting Award is a biennial acquisitive painting prize and is awarded to a living Australian artist to commemorate the life and work of Emanuel Phillips Fox (1865–1915), the uncle of Len Fox, partner of benefactor Mona Fox. The award is funded through a bequest from Mona Fox, with $50,000 awarded to the winner.

The Len Fox Award recognises and promotes the work of Australian artists pursuing the artistic interests and qualities of E. P. Fox. These include engagement with colour and light; ambitious connections with international developments in art; and, an interest in travel and an engagement with the cultures of diverse regions and peoples.

The Len Fox Award will be made to a painting judged to have addressed the interests of E. P. Fox as an imaginative, inquisitive and worldly artist. This is an acquisitive award, with the winning painting becoming part of the CAM Collection.

Entries are now open, until 15 December 2021.

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Join the team at this exciting time!

CAM is pleased to be recruiting for two new part-time positions. The Curator (0.6FTE) and Public Programs Officer (0.2FTE) will join the CAM team in realising an ambitious two-year program. This is a significant step forward in building CAM’s capacity as Australia’s leading regional art museum in the sphere of bold curation that brings art and objects from the past and present into multi-layered conversations.

These roles have been created through project funding from the Commonwealth Government’s Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund. The positions will begin on 1 September 2021.

Please see Position Descriptions for the Public Programs Officer and Curator for further information.

Applications due Sunday 25 July 2021.
Interviews will take place in the week of 2 August 2021.
The position commences on Wednesday 1 September 2021.

Applications should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a short statement addressing each of the key selection criteria and contact details of three referees.

Please forward all applications and address all enquiries to Naomi Cass, Director, at naomi.cass@castlemaineartmuseum.org.au or phone on 03 5472 2292.

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CAM is pleased to announce the second Experimental Print Prize. Established in 2019, the biennial, non-acquisitive prize is open to artists resident in Victoria. Through the generous support of an anonymous local donor, three prizes are offered: $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 for an emerging artist.

There is a strong tradition of printmaking in Victoria and the EPP seeks to foster new directions in the field through both the exhibition of shortlisted artists and awarding of prizes. Unique amongst printmaking prizes, EPP recognises that experimentation and risk are essential to art.

Entries are invited from artists using innovative approaches to traditional printmaking processes such as intaglio, relief, planographic, digital processes and photography (if included within the printmaking process). Experimentation may include challenging and redefining concepts of printmaking; crossing traditional boundaries between media; pushing the limits of medium and process; engaging with new tools, techniques and materials; artists’ books and three dimensional work will be accepted. Established through to early career artists are encouraged to apply.

Writing on the inaugural EPP for Imprint Magazine, Viva Hall stated, “The prize is a varied and exciting example of diversity within print. Being a non-acquisitive prize with an emphasis on experimentation gives room for artists to push themselves and their practices.”

In 2019 Rebecca Mayo was awarded the First Prize for her work Escape Route: Melbourne to Canberra, 2018; Mark Friedlander took out the second prize for Containment, 2019; and Yoshe Gillespie was awarded the Emerging Artist Award and the Friends of Castlemaine Art Museum (FOCAM) People's Choice Award for her work Transitory, 2019.

2021 JUDGES
Catherine Pilgrim, a celebrated local artist and educator working with lithography and drawing; Trent Walters of Negative Press, publisher of limited edition prints and artists' books by contemporary Australian artists; Naomi Cass, CAM Director, as non-voting Chair.

EXHIBITION
The official exhibition opening of the shortlisted artists and announcement of winners will be held on 13 November, 2021.
An exhibition of shortlisted works will be held at Castlemaine Art Museum, 14 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine, Victoria, from 13 November - 28 February 2022.
Selected artists will be asked to provide a short biography and artist statement.

Entry fee $35.00

HOW TO ENTER
Head to our entry page and:

1. Read the conditions of entry and ensure all eligibility requirements are met
2. Complete the entry form
3. Upload a high-quality digital image
4. Submit payment of AUD $35.00 (incl. GST) per work (one print only)
5. Once processed, acknowledgement of entry and receipt of payment will be emailed to entrants.

IMPORTANT DATES
Entries Open: 28 May 2021
Entries close: 12 September 2021
Shortlisting: September
Notification by email of selection: 10 October 2021
Selected entries to be delivered to the Castlemaine Art Museum between: 21-24 October 2021, between 12.00pm and 5.00pm
Exhibition dates: 13 November 2021 - 28 February 2022
Official opening and announcement of prizes: 13 November 2021
Collection of works: 4-7 March 2022

On 19 March 2021, Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson and Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards visited CAM to announce a $100,000 Victorian Government grant to undertake master planning for the major redevelopment of CAM's 1931 building.

The master planning project will look at ways to celebrate and preserve the significant heritage features of the building, create new exhibition, event and education spaces and bring the whole venue in line with accessibility requirements.
This support is funded through the government’s Infrastructure Planning and Acceleration Fund.

We are excited to begin work on the project!

Pictured: CAM Director Naomi Cass, Minister Pearson, CAM Chair Craig Mutton, and Maree Edwards.

On Friday 7 May Castlemaine Art Museum was announced as a recipient of $267,750 in funding to support the development of two major exhibitions and a projection-art program over a two-year period.

This funding is part of the Federal Government’s $25 million Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) fund, targeted at getting Australia’s creative sector to bounce back from the impacts of COVID-19.

The ‘Future Beacon’ project will include seven artist’s commissions of projections onto the exterior facade of the building, an exhibition of contemporary indigenous art, and an exhibition of prominent artist David Rosetzky.

The funding will also support the employment of a part-time curator, a public programs coordinator, and an indigenous curatorial role.

Naomi Cass, CAM Director said "We are thrilled to receive support from the Federal Government to RISE to community expectations! This grant will enable CAM to deliver a suite of exciting commissions, working with First Nations artists and mid-career artist David Rosetzky, bringing CAM's significant historical building and streetscape to life, for the pleasure of the local community as well as visitors to the region".

Craig Mutton, CAM Chair said "Rise funding not only enables CAM to bounce back in an ambitious and relevant manner as a 'Future Beacon' in Central Victoria but also gives tangible confidence in the strategic and artistic vision of the organisation."

Projects will commence in September 2021.

Castlemaine Art Museum has a proud and distinct history having been created by its community as both an art gallery and a historical museum.

Intersections between art and history position CAM to be Australia’s leading regional art museum in the sphere of bold curation that brings both art and objects from the past and present into contemporary conversations.

Development of the new website and graphic identity is the next step in CAM’s continuing revitalisation, and has been developed through collaboration with the dynamic arts publisher and contemporary art commentator Art Guide Australia and designers Jack Loel and Graham Meadowcroft from Caption Studio. We acknowledge the excellent design thinking contributed by Jack Loel.

True to CAM’s aspiration to be a leader in the intersection between history and the contemporary, the new logo builds on the strengths of previous design by referencing CAM’s cherished Art Deco Neo-Classical building while moving to a more contemporary graphic style. We love the fact that it both celebrates CAM’s history and looks to the future.

It has been a great pleasure over the last two years to present CAM’s collections in new ways that unite the art and social history collections. Presenting the work of First Nation's artists as well as significant artists from Central Victoria has also been enormously popular.

We invite the community to explore the new website, to share your thoughts on the site, and get in touch with any insights you may like to add to our catalogue information. We also welcome community expressions of interest to write a Reflection on the collection for our ongoing series.