Last year’s TURSA Art Prize competition at the Lismore Show was the biggest it had ever been.

This year, with $4000 in prize money for the winners, it’s looking to be even bigger.

The main acquisitive prize winner will receive $3000 and the grand champion will receive prize money of $1000.

And the good news is - entries close October 4 - so there’s still time to enter your artworks.

The Lismore Show this year will be held October 17 to 19, with school groups and their teachers and accompanying parents invited to come to the show for free on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 19.

North Coast National Agricultural and Industrial Society secretary Mark Bailey said this year’s acquisitive art prize is attracting entries from all around Australia. 

“TURSA Employment Services has been a major sponsor of the Lismore North Coast National Show for many years,” Mr Bailey said.

“This year, TURSA has doubled the prize money and this funding is what has made the TURSA Art Prize a major event in the Northern Rivers, attracting a high quality of artwork.

“There’s also an art prize sponsored by MP Janelle Saffin with $400 prize money. Local sponsors are also on board, like Lismore Regional Gallery and print and art supply shops.”

In fact, this year’s competition is so big, Mr Bailey said organisers had to limit the number of paintings one artists could enter to four. 

“Previously, there was a maximum of 10, but we have so many entries that we still have the same number of artworks even though we halved the entries," Mr Bailey said.

Winners of the TURSA Art Prize will be announced on Wednesday, October 16 at 5.30pm at a free opening of the art show.

“Deputy Mayor Darlene Cook will open the show in the Gem Club at Lismore Showground,” Mr Bailey said.

“We’ll also have free drinks and nibbles supplied by TURSA.

“It will be quite and event.”

This year’s TURSA Art Prize judges are TAFE head art teacher Steven Giese and Lismore Regional Gallery director Brett Adlington.

“We also have a new team of volunteers helping out including Jeht Burgoyne , the former assistant director at Ballina Gallery.”

For more information or to enter the TURSA Art Prize, visit

http://www.northcoastnational.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Art-Entry-2019-Form.pdf

For more information on the Lismore Show, visit http://www.northcoastnational.com.au/