The 37th annual Bentley Art Prize is only three weeks away, with artists sharing in $13,000 prizemoney in 2024.

The event is growing in popularity and reputation and is increasingly simply known as The Bentley. It supports young emerging artists using oils, water colours, pencil/crayon, photography and sculpting.

This year has seen a few changes under the new BAP Committee, most notably the event date change to July 12 to 14. As a result of that change, the deadline for entries to be submitted has been brought forward to next Friday, June 28.

The Bentley usually receives around 600 entries each year.

(BAP Committee, l-r, Janelle Claydon, Gordon Serone, Wendy Harris, Rosemary Joseph, Peter Nielsen, Liz Stops, Ted Hoddinott, Meg Nielsen. Photo: supplied)

Entry forms can be downloaded from Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BentleyArtPrize/ or contact [email protected] if you’d like one emailed to you. Hard copy forms are also available through:

• Arts Northern Rivers
• Lismore Regional
• Serpentine
• Elevator ARI galleries
• Flourish Gallery Lismore Library
• Sheila Turner Picture Framing (Strand Arcade)
• Lismore Art & Framing (Wyrallah Road)
• South Lismore Post Office
• Lismore Trophies (Union St)
• Oak Tree Community Centre (Mackellar Place, Goonellabah).

Other venues can be found in Casino and Kyogle via the Facebook link above.

BAP Committee member Meg Nielson told the Lismore App, entries can be anything at all.

"Any style and any subject," Meg said, "The main landscape prize is worth $2,000 to the winner, and we have four Bentley landscape prizes worth $1,000 each. There is a sculpture section sponsored by Janelle Saffin worth another $1,000, plus we have prizes for school-aged children"

"There is a Primary School section where the champion boy and girl receive $50 each and there are lesser prizes of $25 each. For High School children, Years 7 to 9, it is $300 for the winner, second $100 and $50 for highly commended. For Years 10 to 12, first prize is $350, second $200 and highly commended $100."

"We are encouraging art pieces from all all ages. The $13,000 prize pool is all thanks to our very generous sponsors."

(One of the first entries received from artist Luke Close. Photo: supplied)

The judge for The Bentley this year is well-known and highly respected artist Harry Westera.

Harry trained in drawing and painting at the Julian Ashton Art School and under the Tonal Impressionist portrait painter Graeme Inson. He has studied watercolour under well known watercolourists David Taylor and Ross Paterson and has an honours degree in Art History and Theory.

To view the artworks, you need to diarise the three days they are on exhibition at the Bentley Public Hall.

Opening night is a wine and cheese event on Friday, July 12 between 7 and 9pm with live music from Jamie Sullivan.

Saturday, July 13 is the official opening and when the prizes will be awarded with live music by Luke Vassella along with market stalls and a coffee van.

"Judge Harry Westera will also give the artist an explantion as to why they were chosen," Meg said.

Then, on Sunday, July 14 the exhibition will be open for viewing from 9am to 2pm with live music by Croaker and the Honeybee (9-11:30am and Sylvia Nowlan (12-2pm).

The Bentley Public Hall is a short 20-minute drive from Lismore at 2150 Bentley Road, Bentley.