Winning Artist for People’s Choice Award announced
03 March 2005
Christopher Beaumont is the winner of the Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize People’s Choice Award, winning a dedicated solo exhibition at the Bendigo Art Gallery in 2006.
Beaumont was the clear winner in the People’s Choice prize with over 450 entries submitted. Director of the Bendigo Art Gallery Karen Quinlan said, “Christopher’s work was clearly the most popular amongst our visitors. His piece Narcissus excited considerable interest and we are very much looking forward to seeing more of his work in his upcoming exhibition.”
Designed to attract some of Australia’s finest contemporary artists and high calibre works, the Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize and exhibition was first held in 2003 at the Bendigo Art Gallery and will be held every two years thereafter. In January 2005, Dale Frank was announced as the winner of the Arthur Guy Painting Prize, receiving a $50,000 cash acquisitive prize, an unprecedented amount for a painting prize.
Shortlisted artists include: Garry Adams, Peter Atkins, Xiao Bai, Irene Barberis, Christopher Beaumont, Yvonne Boag, Marion Borgelt, Robert Boynes, Warren Breninger, Angela Brennan, Kerry Buckland-Lewis, Janet Burchill, Jon Campbell, Jon Cattapan, Zhong Chen, Greg Creek, Hazel Dooney, Franz Ehmann, Sarah Faulkner, Prudence Flint, Juan Ford, Louise Forthun, Dale Frank, Mark Galea, Marie Hagerty, Stephen Haley, Melinda Harper, Katherine Hattam, Robert Hunter, Lindy Lee, Euan Macleod, Louise Paramor, David Ralph, Gareth Sansom, Joan Nancy Stokes, Guy Stuart, Wilma Tabacco, Aida Tomescu, Stephen Turpie, Darren Wardle and Jenny Watson. An exhibition of the finalists and winning work will be open from 29 January 2005.
Mr Allen Guy C.B.E. has initiated the Prize in honour of his late brother Arthur Guy who died during WWII, with equal assistance provided by the Bendigo Art Gallery.
The Guy family are prominent in the Bendigo region. Mr Allen Guy C.B.E. has served on various committees including as Chairman of Sandhurst Trustees 1979-1989. Mr Richard Guy OAM is the current Chairman of Bendigo Bank and has held this role since the late 1980s.
Arthur Guy Prize Judge and Deputy Director, National Gallery of Victoria: International, Tony Ellwood added, “The quality of entries for this prize reflects the significance of this award and the standing and contribution of the Bendigo Art Gallery in Australia. It is justifiably a prize of national importance.”
Exhibition: 29 January 2005 – 6 March 2005
