The Trust Company, as Trustee, will be closing entries for Australia’s most famed portrait prize for women, the Portia Geach Memorial Award, on 17 August 2012, with shortlisted finalists due to be announced in early September.
The winner of the 2012 Portia Geach Memorial Award will be revealed on 27 September with an exhibition of all finalists open for viewing by the public at the S.H. Ervin Gallery, The Rocks, until 4 November.
As per the direction of the will, the award is presented to an Australian female artist for the best portrait painted from life of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters or the sciences.
The Portia Geach Memorial Award, first awarded in 1965, was established by Florence Kate Geach in memory of her sister, artist Portia Geach.
The 2011 winner was Kate Stevens for her portrait of animator, video and street artist Willy Bernardoff entitled Indian Dream.
Interested applicants can complete their applications at: http://www.thetrustcompany.com.au/philanthropy/awards/portia_geach/default.asp
About the Portia Geach Memorial Award:
The Portia Geach Memorial Award was established by Florence Kate Geach in memory of her sister, artist Portia Geach, who spent much of her life campaigning for the rights of women in Australia and was determined to make a living from painting. Geach was widely acclaimed as a leading artist and was a frequent commentator in the national media – making her an iconic figure in the Australian arts community.
The Portia Geach Memorial Award is awarded by The Trust Company as Trustee, to the entry with the highest artistic merit.
The Trust Company also administers the R & M McGivern Art Prize, which is awarded every three years and was established through the will of Ms Muriel McGivern to promote artistic excellence in watercolour, oil and acrylic painting and build a high quality collection for the Maroondah region.