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. 

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