The Mission to Seafarers’ Maritime Art Prize & Exhibition is an international competition that has been hosted at the heritage-listed Mission building in Melbourne’s Docklands for nineteen years and the event is returning once again in 2021. The theme ‘The Relationship of Humanity to the Sea’ is even more relevant this year considering the duration seafarers are at sea.
Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, this year’s exhibition will be held online via a virtual gallery and the awards will be announced on Thursday 14th of October at 6pm (see link below).
Of the entries received, 80 have been shortlisted from a highly competitive field – including a greater number of interstate artists than previous years – all of whom responded to the theme ‘The Relationship of Humanity to the Sea’. The jury were impressed with the high standard and diversity of entries, ranging from traditional to contemporary mixed media.
Entrants compete in five categories – Maritime Art Award, Best Traditional, Runner-Up, Emerging Artist and People’s Choice Award.
$10,000 MSC Maritime Art Award
Sponsored by Mediterranean Shipping Company
$5,000 Best in Traditional Maritime Art Award
Sponsored by the Port Philip Sea Pilots
$1,000 Emerging Artist Award
$2,000 People’s Choice Award
Sponsored by VICT
$2,000 Runner-Up Award
Sponsored by Nevile & Co
This year’s judges are Dr. Graeme Williams OAM, Paul Auckett – Look Art Consulting, and Jane Scott – Art Consultant.
The annual event is a major fundraising initiative of the Mission to Seafarers Victoria (MtSV). Australia relies on shipping and seafarers to connect to the world and to bring goods to our homes for the economy to thrive, and for the health of our island nation. MtSV provides welfare services to support the tireless work and hardships faced by those seafarers. The generosity of our sponsors who provide the prize money and other in-kind contributions, and the artists who pay an entrance fee and a commission on all works that are sold, ensures the continued success and wide popularity of the Maritime Art Prize & Exhibition and in turn, supports those seafarers. Due to the global pandemic, we are needed now more than ever.
