The new and improved Minnawarra Art Awards showcases some of Western Australia’s best artists, a number of which we are proud to say are local to the Armadale district! This year sees an increased prize pool and more targeted art awards to ensure this professionally curated exhibition provides viewers with a powerful show of high calibre and diverse artworks.

As the centrepiece of the Armadale Arts Festival, the Art Awards offers an exciting public program including floor talks, Positive Ageing High Teas and Music in the Hall ensuring that it’s not just the arts lovers that are able to revel in this creative visual feast!

ACQUISITION AWARDS
City of Armadale Art Award, $12,000
This award signifies the most outstanding artwork of the exhibition and the successful work will be acquired into the City of Armadale Art Collection.

Local Artist Award, $3000
This award celebrates the incredible talent that resides within the Armadale District and acknowledges an outstanding artwork by a local artist. Once again, the successful work will be acquired into the City of Armadale Art Collection.

Aboriginal Artist Award, $3000
This award celebrates the heritage and importance of the Aboriginal culture and the need to acknowledge and share these works. An outstanding artwork by an Aboriginal artist will also be acquired into the City of Armadale Art Collection.

NON-ACQUISITION AWARDS
Gerry Gauntlett Award, $5000
Established in 2009, the Gerry Gauntlett Award pays tribute to the significant role played in the redevelopment of Armadale by the late Mr Gauntlett as the inaugural Chair of the Armadale Redevelopment Authority (ARA).

Gerry Gauntlett was instrumental in the growth and development of Armadale. Appointed the inaugural Chairman of the ARA in 2002, he introduced social inclusion into many of the ARA policies resulting in  positive commercial outcomes and major redevelopment. The growth and development we see here in Armadale today started with the result of Gerry’s work at the ARA. Gerry also had a deep and abiding interest in heritage matters and was a member of the Heritage Council for 15 years.

Gerry’s strong social conscience had directed the ARA which was set up by former planning and infrastructure minister Alannah MacTiernan. “I was looking for someone who had connections with the big end of town and had  the social conscience to put a place like Armadale on the map and had the social agenda to boost the quality of life, “Ms MacTiernan said. “He was the perfect person for the job, commercially savvy and with a great compassion and interest that transcended making money.”
Excerpt from The West Obituaries (8 October 2008)