Don’t miss the opportunity to take part in a major regional sculpture exhibition with total prize money of over $38,000.

Dancing Branches by Michael Purdy. Exhibition winner 2019.

Perched high on a hill in Kangaroo Valley, this stunning blank canvas of 100 acres will be the playground for artists for the Sculpture in the Valley 2023 exhibition. In 2023 the total prize money has increased to $38,000 with the 1^st Prize for outdoor sculpture being $20,000. Applications are now open and close on June 18th.

In 2023 the exhibition will be held at Wilburra a property on Smarts Rd high up in Kangaroo Valley with majestic escarpment views from the glorious garden. The exhibition venue Wilburra offers an intimate rural setting with expansive Kangaroo Valley views for the outdoor sculpture and a professional exhibition space for indoor sculpture works. The exhibition will run over the weekends of the 9th & 10th and the 16th & 17th of September.

In 2023 the exhibition welcomes David Ball as the exhibition curator, who is also a previous winner of the exhibition. At a recent on-site inspection at Wilburra Ball stated,

“With an eye to the future. I’d like to make this show south of Sydney, become significant in the sculpture world for collectors and sculpture lovers. It’s a struggle to be a professional artist and you need places to exhibit this is an opportunity to get your work into the landscape”

Kangaroo Valley is the stunning backdrop of the exhibition credit: Harry Kielly

Newly appointed Director of Sculpture in the Valley is Stuart McCreery encourages sculptors to apply for this year’s exhibition that will be judged by the renowned artists Janet Laurence and Michael Snape. Sculptors are welcome to view the venue and meet the director and curator at an upcoming site inspection date of May 18^th.

“We’ve watched two events get called, get prepared for, and then had to be cancelled. One for covid, one for flood. This is going to be an event … that recovers those things which have been lost. It’s an important time to get your sculpture, make an application, and be part of this event. It’s going to be absolutely wonderful” McCreery says.

Sculpture in the Valley is part of the not-for-profit organisation Arts in the Valley also known as the Kangaroo Valley Arts Festival. For more information and to confirm details for the upcoming site inspection visit artsinthevalley.net.au/sculpture.

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Prizes

 

Sculpture Prize  – Outdoor $20,000, Indoor $7,000 Highly commended – Outdoor $5,000, Indoor $1,500 People’s Choice – Outdoor $3,000, Indoor $2,000

How to Enter:  Click this link and complete the application form on our website: artsinthevalley.net.au/entry

Entries close: on 18^th June 5 pm
Enquiries:  sculpture@atrsinthevalley.net.au

Key information

 

Last Sculpture in the Valley was 2019. 177 sculptors selected. 87 sculptors made a sale. $185,000 total sales. Previous sculptors include Michael Purdy, David Ball, Stephen Harrison, Phlyssa Koshland, Patricia Lawrence, Vikki Holik-Blazley, Christopher Hodges, Sonia Payes, Susie Bleach Andrew Townsend, Deborah Redwood, Ulan Murray

Key Dates:

 

March 22nd Entries open
May 18th Sculptors welcome to visit the site. Director & Curator present
June 18th Entries close after three months, under a new moon
July 3rd Announcement of finalists
August 16th Finalists submit photo for catalogue and confirmation of outcome

September 4th/ 5th/ 6th Delivery and installation of works
September 7th/ 8th Judging
September 8th Viewing for Supporters and VIPs
September 9th/10th Exhibition 10 am – 4 pm. Winners announced 11am

September 16th/17th Exhibition 10 am – 4 pm
September 17th Sculptors to remove unsold works 4-5 pm
September 18th/ 19th/ 20th Sculptors to remove unsold works 10 am – 4 p