SAM to host professional development weekend intensive for local creatives.
29 April 2025
Shepparton Art Museum to host two-day professional development program for local creatives.
Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) is pleased to present Art as Business, a two-day professional development intensive that aims to strengthen the business knowledge and skills of regional creative practitioners. Taking place over Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May, the program will feature panel discussions and workshops that address key areas of concern for artists, including accounting, copyright, communication, installing artwork, and applying for grants.
The workshops and talks will be presented by a range of artists, arts workers, and arts industry professionals, including artist Beci Orpin, Evan Lowenstein (Director, Lowenstein Arts Management), and Amelia Kingston (Grants Manager, Regional Arts Victoria). Over the course of the weekend, artists from the Goulburn Valley and beyond will connect with fellow creatives, expand their professional network, and discover new ways to strengthen the business side of their creative practice.
Ahead of the Art as Business program, a free networking event will be hosted on Friday 16 May at La Trobe University’s Shepparton Campus, which both Art as Business ticketholders and the general public are invited to attend. Attendees can enjoy a panel discussion exploring the challenges and opportunities within the regional arts landscape, featuring Danny Lacy (Artistic Director, SAM), Ros Abercrombie (Director, Regional Arts Australia), Tegan Nash (Director, Live Art Benalla), and artist Cameron Robbins, with drinks and refreshments provided.
Gabriella Calandro, SAM Head of Engagement, says of the event:
“We’re excited to offer this fantastic series of workshops and talks to our community and help support the development of our region’s creative practitioners. This program brings together experts in finance and arts management, artists’ rights, marketing and communications, and leaders from major arts institutions to present a comprehensive program that addresses the key challenges faced by Victorian artists. This will be an opportunity not to be missed by artists looking to develop professionally and connect with peers and figures from the creative industry. We’re grateful to the support of La Trobe University’s Shepparton Campus in helping to bring this program to life and helping us to keep the ticket price at an accessible point for our community.”
Tickets for Art as Business and the artist networking evening are now available to book via the SAM website: https://sheppartonartmuseum.com.au/events/?tribe_eventcategory%5B%5D=21
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Shepparton Art Museum announces the 2025 winner and runners-up of The Urbach.
3 April 2025
Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) is pleased to announce the 2025 winner and runners-up of The Theodore Urbach Landscape Prize and Studio Scholarship (“The Urbach”), a $10,000 prize and scholarship encouraging explorations in the field Australian landscape painting. On Friday 28 March, artist Anthea Kemp was named the winner of The Urbach, with artists Jarrad Martyn and Kate McKenzie Lewis named the two runners-up.
Based in St Kilda, Anthea Kemp has been exhibiting as an artist since 2015, showcasing her work in solo and group exhibitions across Melbourne, regional Victoria, Perth, and Sydney. Her practice is driven by her engagement with nature and conservation, translating the visual and ecological rhythms of form in the landscape into painting. As an artist, her approach to painting is intertwined with her commitment to learning about conservation and recognising her own responsibility in caring for country. Working with themes of place and the Australian Landscape, she aims to highlight the conservation efforts taking place across Australia and reflect the knowledge she gains through her volunteer work with seed banks and conservation groups.
The 2025 finalists were selected from twenty-three applications to the prestigious award. Five artists from the twenty-three were shortlisted, going on to present their applications to an expert judging panel. The 2025 judging panel, chaired by SAM Artistic Director Danny Lacy, consisted of Dr. Drew Pettifer (Associate Professor RMIT and SAM Ltd Board member), David Hagger (Melbourne-based curator, consultant, and project manager), Rachel Arndt (Director, Wangaratta Art Gallery), and Briar Stevens (Equity Trustees representative for The Theodore Urbach Landscape Painting Scholarship and Prize Charitable Trust).
Of the applicants, David Hagger says:
“The strength of applicants over the first two iterations of The Urbach has been remarkable, and is a testament to the opportunities that this uniquely tailored initiative offers in the development of artists’ professional practices and connection with the community of Shepparton.”
Caroline Esbenshade, SAM Curator – Community and coordinator of The Urbach, says:
“We were impressed by the calibre and diversity of the submissions we received this year, which showcased the many unique ways in which the Australian landscape can be interpreted. We’re excited to continue pushing the boundaries of how we understand and engage with the genre, expanding the horizon of Australian landscape painting. I’m looking forward to working with Anthea, finding ways to support her development as well as to support her in sharing her knowledge and passion for conservation with the community.”
As winner of The Urbach, Kemp will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a scholarship stipend of $5,000 to support her as she undertakes the three-month scholarship at SAM’s onsite artist studio from 1 May to 31 July 2025. Over the scholarship period, Kemp intends to engage with the Euroa Arboretum, located on the lands of the Taungurung and Yorta Yorta people, to undertake research that will inform the creation of a new body of responsive paintings.
As runners-up, Jarrad Martyn and Kate McKenzie Lewis will each be awarded a $2,500 prize in recognition of their time and commitment in developing their applications.
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Media enquiries, please contact: Mikela Guseli, Communications Officer, SAM
p: (03) 4804 5009 e: mguseli@sheppartonartmuseum.com.au
Featured image: Anthea Kemp headshot. Image courtesy of the artist.