Exhibit celebrates emerging artists

A new exhibition featuring works by talented young artists who entered this year’s Next Generation Arts Prize is currently on display at the Bribie Island Community Arts Centre (BICAS).

Held annually, the competition is an opportunity for young people aged 7-18 to have their work displayed in the Matthew Flinders Art Gallery.

The winners were announced on August 24, with the exhibition open to the public from now until Sunday, September 8.

Following a record number of entries this year, Next Gen committee chairman Sarah Cave says BICAS is proud to give young people the opportunity to share their work and be recognised for their talents.

“Next Gen is a much-loved and anticipated annual event which is designed to give young artists from the City of Moreton Bay the opportunity to exhibit their work in a well-designed public gallery with thousands of local, national and international visitors,” Sarah says.

“Since Next Gen’s inauguration in 2017, BICAS has coached young artists on how to have their work gallery ready and encouraged them to write an explanatory artist statement.”

The judges for this year’s event were Rachel Bywaters - a proud descendant of the peoples of the Gamilaroi nation, and who is also studying a Bachelor of Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art at Griffith University - as well as Aaron Butt, who is an artist based in Ningi. He was also the winner of this year’s Moreton Bay Regional Art Awards.

The Moreton Youth Music Ensembles next generation of young musical artists have also accompanied the Next Gen opening night since 2018, with a string quartet performing in the gallery, and a larger ensemble in the courtyard.

To see more photos, click through the gallery below.

Lucky winners

16-18 Years Category

• Winner 2D: Olivia Trabelsi for “Predator and Prey”.
• Winner 3D: Charlotte Ellis for “Woven Turtle”.
• Highly Commended: Maxene Ferazol for “Self Expression”.

14-15 Years Category

• Winner 2D: Lacey Pohle for “Daydream”.
• Winner 3D: Lily Edgar for “Year of the Dragon”.
• Highly Commended: Naomi Wong for “My World”.

12-13 Years Category

• Winner 2D: Savanah Cochrane for “Cat Mouse”.
• Winner 3D: Elsie Hankins for “Elephante”.
• Highly Commended: Kouper Ward-Collins for “My Place”.

9-11 Years Category

• Winner 2D: Bethany Lowe for “Spring Blooms”.
• Winner 3D: Eve Marshman for “Fairy Garden”.
• Highly Commended: Luther McGruddy for “My Mate Macca the Alpaca”.

7-8 Years Category:

Winner 2D: Anastasia Leckie for “Moonlight Refection”.

Winner 3D: Ayla White for “Ayala Doll”.

Highly Commended: Breanne Sinn for “Midnight on the Coral Reef”.

Pacific Harbour Awards

• Junior: Liliana Trabelsi for “Hedwig”.
• Intermediate: Lacey Pohle for “Daydream”.
• Senior: Shimika Kroll for “Feline”.

Other awards

• State Parliamentarians Award: Lacey Pohle for “Daydream”.
• BICAS Packing Room Prize: Kya Dulhunty for “Organic Harmony”.
• BIEPA Recycled Materials Award: Sage Clode for “Canned Fish – Pike”.

People’s Choice Award

Visitors will also have the chance to vote for their favourite piece to win the People’s Choice Award. The winner will be announced on the BICAS website and Facebook page at the end of the exhibition.

Head on down

The 2024 Next Gen Art Prize exhibition will be on display inside the Matthew Flinders Art Gallery at the Bribie Island Community Arts Centre from now until Sunday, September 8.

Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 9am-4pm, and every Sunday from 9am-1pm.

Entry is free.

The Bribie Island Community Arts Centre is located at 191 Sunderland Drive, Banksia Beach.