Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) is pleased to announce the launch of The Theodore Urbach Landscape Prize and Studio Scholarship (“The Urbach”), a new $10,000 prize and scholarship encouraging explorations in the field Australian landscape painting.

The Urbach will be awarded to a Goulburn Valley or Hume-based artist working in the field of Australian landscape painting. The awarded artist will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a scholarship stipend of $5,000 to support them as they undertake the three-month scholarship at SAM’s onsite artist studio from 1 May to 31 July 2024. In addition to the first prize, two runners-up will each be awarded a $2,500 prize in recognition of their time and commitment in developing their applications.

The Urbach celebrates the creative process and acknowledges that artists need time and space to further their creative practice. The Urbach prize and scholarship provides artists with the time, studio space, and financial support to immerse themselves in the creative process and study of the landscape of the Goulburn Valley and Hume regions, with no set deliverable outcomes. In addition to the prize, the awarded artist will receive tailored professional development opportunities to aid in the development of their practice. For the 2024 launch, The Urbach will be open to artists living in the Goulburn Valley and Hume regions only.

Of the opportunity, SAM CEO Melinda Martin says:

“We understand the challenges that artists can face in balancing the pursuit of their craft with the realities of work, life, and even securing appropriate studio space. This is why we’re so thrilled to be introducing this wonderful prize and scholarship to our creative community. The Urbach presents an exciting opportunity to artists to dedicate time, energy, and focus to their practice while giving them exclusive access to our state-of-the-art onsite artist studio. SAM is fortunate to be nestled in the unique landscape of the Goulburn Valley, which will provide endless inspiration to the artists of The Urbach.”

The Urbach program is generously supported by the Theodore Urbach Landscape Painting Scholarship and Prize Charitable Trust. The trust, established through the will of late philanthropist and arts patron Theodore Urbach, was designed to provide prizes and scholarship opportunities to benefit artists and students working in the field of Australian landscape painting.

Online applications to The Urbach open on 22 January 2024. To view the full eligibility criteria, application process, and program guidelines, visit the SAM website: https://sheppartonartmuseum.com.au/support-get-involved/the-urbach/

The Urbach 2024 Details:

• Open to artists working in the field of Australian landscape painting, which includes painting, drawing and photography.
• Applicants must be living in the Goulburn Valley or Hume regions.
  • The Urbach First Prize 
    • $5,000 cash prize 
    • $5,000 scholarship stipend 
    • 3-month access to the SAM Artist Studio to undertake the scholarship
    • Tailored professional development opportunities. 
  • The Urbach Second Prizes
    • $2,500 cash prize for two runners up in recognition of their time and commitment in developing their applications and presenting to the panel. 

Applications open: 22 January 2024

Applications close: 29 February 2024

Application & guidelines on the SAM Website: https://sheppartonartmuseum.com.au/support-get-involved/the-urbach/