Applications to The Urbach 2025 to open 8 November 2024
29 October 2024
Applications to The 2025 Urbach landscape painting prize and scholarship to open 8 November 2024.
Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) is pleased to announce the return of The Theodore Urbach Landscape Prize and Studio Scholarship (“The Urbach”) for 2025 following its first successful delivery in 2024. Applications for the $10,000 prize and scholarship encouraging explorations in the field Australian landscape painting will open on 8 November 2024 and will close on 3 March 2025.
The Urbach will be awarded to a Victorian-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, non-residential scholarship at SAM’s onsite artist studio from 1 May to 31 July 2025. 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. In 2024, The Urbach was awarded to Echuca-based artist Ellen Lee, who focused her scholarship period on furthering her abstract visual practice, drawing inspiration from the wetlands and local birdlife of Victoria Lake.
Of the opportunity, SAM Artistic Director Danny Lacy says:
“We’re thrilled to offer The Urbach for a second year following a fruitful first iteration in 2024. The Urbach program addresses some of the financial and time challenges that artists face and provides the support needed so artists can dedicate focus and energy to the development of their practice. With the cash prize, scholarship fund, and exclusive use of the state-of-the-art SAM Artist studio, the winner of The Urbach can immerse themselves in the exploration of their practice, with access to professional development opportunities, the knowledge and experience of the SAM team, and the vibrant natural surrounds of Lake Victoria and the Goulburn River on the museum’s doorstep. We encourage all eligible artists to consider applying to The Urbach to help them reach the next stage in their practice.”
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 8 November 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/
For artists interested in learning more about The Urbach and the scholarship opportunity, a conversation between 2024 Urbach artist Ellen Lee and SAM Curator – Community Caroline Esbenshade will be held at SAM on 7 November at 6.00pm. To register for this event, visit the Humanitix event listing: https://events.humanitix.com/sam-talks-ellen-lee-residency-2024. A recording of this talk will be made available online following the event.
The Urbach 2025 Details:
- Open to artists working in the field of Australian landscape painting, which includes painting, drawing, and photography.
- Applicants must be living in Victoria.
- 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.
- The Urbach First Prize
Applications open: 8 November 2024
Applications close: 3 March 2025
Application & guidelines on the SAM Website: https://sheppartonartmuseum.com.au/support-get-involved/the-urbach/
ENDS
Shepparton Art Museum announces 2025 Community Gallery artists
23 October 2024
Shepparton Art Museum announces Dore Stockhausen and Kat Parker as 2025 Community Gallery artists.
Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) is pleased to announce the selection of Dore Stockhausen and Kat Parker as the 2025 exhibiting artists of SAM Selects and SAM Spotlight respectively. The artists were selected by an appointed judging panel following an open call out and application process, which garnered 15 applications collectively.
In March 2025, Stockhausen will present a selection of large- and small-scale acrylic paintings in SAM’s Hugh D.T Williamson Community Gallery for her SAM Selects exhibition. Entitled echoes of a new eden, Stockhausen’s body of work explores the impact of human civilisation on formerly untouched landscapes. Based in Beechworth, Stockhausen’s practice reflects on themes surrounding irreversible human impact on pristine land in an abstract, hard-edged painting style.
Later in the year, Shepparton-based artist Kat Parker will present a solo exhibition of new artworks for her SAM Spotlight exhibition. An emerging artist and printmaker with a fascination with the dysfunctional relationship between humanity and the natural world, Parker will present a selection of linocuts and intricate paper sculptures that highlight animal extinction and endangerment in Australia. In 2024, Parker was awarded the People’s Choice Award for her entry in the SAM Fresh exhibition, entitled Discarded III (Robust White-Eye). Parker’s SAM Spotlight exhibition will be the artist’s first solo exhibition, opening in the Community Gallery in November 2025.
Caroline Esbenshade, SAM Curator – Community, says of the selection:
“This year’s panel was impressed with the calibre of the applications and the breadth of practices represented. Each year it seems to get harder and harder for the panel to decide on a single application as we have such talented creatives in our region. I am looking forward to working with both artists, whose practices differ materially, yet similarly explore the impacts of human involvement on our natural world.”
ENDS
About the artists:
Dore Stockhausen is a mid-career artist based in Beechworth, Victoria. Originally from Germany, Stockhausen has a rich creative practice with a background in goldsmithing. Over the last decade she has shifted her creative practice to painting, working in acrylic paint on canvas wrapped aluminium panels that appear to float on the wall. Stockhausen’s abstract combination of geometric and organic forms explores the idea of how we exist in a post-natural world by constructing her own post-natural landscapes. Stockhausen has exhibited regularly since the mid-90s and her work is represented in regional and national collections including the National Gallery of Australia.
Kat Parker is an emerging artist based in Shepparton. In 2021, she graduated from RMIT with a Bachelor of Fine Art, specialising in printmaking. Parker’s practice focuses on the dysfunctional relationship humanity has with nature, with a particular interest in promoting the overlooked aspects of our environment, especially unremarkable animals and extinctions. Her practice aims to encourage an appreciation for, and love of, nature through printmaking and paper art processes. Parker’s artworks have recently been included in the 'Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize' at South Australian Museum, 'Not Your Kitchen Lino' at Burrinja Cultural Centre, 'Fresh 2024' at Shepparton Art Museum and Geelong Art Gallery’s 'Acquisitive Print Awards'.
About SAM Selects:
The SAM Selects exhibition program allows artists, creatives, curators, and community groups to submit a recent creative project to be exhibited in SAM’s Hugh D.T Williamson Community Gallery. Applications for the space are reviewed by an external panel.
About SAM Spotlight:
SAM Spotlight is an annual paid opportunity for an emerging solo artist based in the Goulburn Valley and Hume region to work closely with the SAM Curator – Community to develop a new body of work for exhibition. Successful artists are selected through an application process, which is also reviewed by an appointed panel.
L-R: SAM Selects artist Dore Stockhausen and SAM Spotlight artist Kat Parker. Photo 1 credit: Jerrun Terlaak; photo 2 credit: Shepparton Art Museum
Shepparton Art Museum Foundation welcomes a major donation of $250,000 to capital campaign
23 October 2024
Shepparton Art Museum Foundation welcomes a major donation of $250,000 to capital campaign.
Shepparton Art Museum Foundation and Shepparton Art Museum Ltd are pleased to announce a major contribution of $250,000 to the museum’s capital campaign from the Zurcas Family and the Sir Andrew & Lady Fairley Foundation.
The official public announcement of the contribution took place at Shepparton Art Museum on Friday 18 October. Representatives present from the Sir Andrew and Lady Fairley Foundation and the Zurcas family acknowledged the key role the new SAM facility has played in supporting the thriving economy of the Greater Shepparton region.
Of his family’s contribution, Nick Zurcas says:
"Our family are pleased to be giving this gift and to partner with SAM, together with the Fairley Foundation. Our grandfather Bill came to Shepparton more than 80 years ago as a migrant from Greece. He established successful businesses in the Goulburn Valley and the Shepparton region, principally in agriculture, transport, hospitality and accommodation. By giving this gift to Shepparton we feel that as a family we are honouring his memory and giving back to the community he called home."
Clare Pullar, SAM Foundation Chair, says of the donation:
“This is a really significant milestone for SAM, and we’re thrilled to celebrate the very generous gift of $125,000 to the museum’s capital campaign from the Zurcas family, which has been matched by a further gift from the Sir Andrew and Lady Fairley Foundation. At its beginning, our goal for the campaign was to reach $5M, but through the efforts and generosity of our community, we’re able to celebrate the completion of the capital campaign at a total of $7.4M raised. We can now celebrate this incredible gateway building to Shepparton, which houses a museum that is very significant for our region, our state, and the nation. We’re grateful to the Zurcas family, who set down roots here 80 years ago, for their donation, along with the support of the Fairley Foundation.”
ENDS
Pictured, L-R: SAM Artistic Director Danny Lacy, SAM Foundation Chair Clare Pullar, Sir Andrew & Lady Fairley Foundation Chair Andrew Fairley AM, Sam Zurcas, Nick Zurcas, Peter Zurcas, SAM Development Manager Carmel Johnson, SAM Ltd Board Chair Steve Merrylees, SAM Director of Business Andrew Gooley. Photo: Shepparton Art Museum
Shepparton Art Museum debuts new permanent collection exhibition Stories from the SAM Collection
11 October 2024
Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) is pleased to present Stories from the SAM Collection, a permanent yet ever-changing exhibition featuring a dynamic selection of artworks drawn from the extensive SAM Collection. Unfolding across a series of thematic rooms, each section of the exhibition uniquely explores the history and the make-up of the collection, from the earliest acquisitions to the expansion of our significant holding of ceramics, and our growing representation of South East Australian Aboriginal artists through the gifting of works from the Carrillo and Ziyin Gantner Indigenous Art Collection.
Familiar and beloved artworks, including John Perceval’s Delinquent Angel and Mirdidingkingathi Juwarnda Sally Gabori’s King Alfred’s Country, are presented alongside recent acquisitions, including works from Afghani-Australian artist Khadim Ali and David Noonan, inviting the viewer along on a journey that not only explores the genesis of the SAM collection, but its continuing evolution to reflect the changing landscape of contemporary Australian art.
Recently appointed SAM Artistic Director, Danny Lacy, says of the exhibition:
“The team have seized the opportunity to unearth some fascinating stories from the SAM Collection. This exhibition model embraces a new permanent format to present a greater diversity of artworks and artists, allowing our audience to gain a deeper, more holistic understanding of not only what artworks we’ve amassed in the collection over our 88-year history, but also how we are continuing to build on it. Our collection is a shared one and has grown through the generosity of our community. We hope that visitors to the exhibition can take a sense of pride in what has been created through our shared passion and vision for a vibrant, significant collection.”
Stories from the SAM Collection is now showing in The People’s Gallery on Level 2 of the museum.
Joining Danny in a new executive role is Andrew Gooley, who has recently been appointed as SAM’s Director of Business. These joint Director appointments come as the SAM Limited Board implements a new strategic vision that continues to elevate its focus on artistic programming and business development.
Stephen Merrylees, SAM Limited Board Chair, says of the appointments:
“The SAM Ltd Board is committed to delivering on SAM’s vision to be recognised as Australia’s premier regional destination for arts and culture, to contribute to the cultural enrichment, community engagement, and economic prosperity of our region. We’re excited to see the establishment of a new permanent exhibition to view the depth of SAM’s collection including works from the gifted Gantner collection, for visitors to enjoy year-round.
As newly appointed joint Directors, Danny Lacy and Andrew Gooley step into their respective positions with impressive experience and industry knowledge to lead the next phase of SAM’s continued growth, as we work to deliver on our ambition to showcase inspiring exhibitions and experiences in Shepparton.”
An exhibition opening event will be held at SAM on 18 October to celebrate the local artists of SAM Open and the new season of exhibitions at the museum. Registrations to this free event can be made via Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/sam-exhibition-celebration
ENDS
Top image: Stories from the SAM Collection, installation view, Shepparton Art Museum, 2024. Photo: Shepparton Art Museum
Bottom image, L-R: SAM Director of Business Andrew Gooley and SAM Artistic Director Danny Lacy. Photo: Shepparton Art Museum