Entries open for the 2022 Napier Waller Art Prize
The Napier Waller Art Prize is open to all current and former service personnel in the Australian Defence Force. The prize encourages artistic excellence, promotes the transformative power of creativity, and raises awareness of the experiences and talent of service personnel.
Initiated in 2018, the Napier Waller Art Prize was named after Mervyn Napier Waller, an Australian artist who enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1915. In May 1917 he was wounded in the right arm while serving with the 11th Field Artillery Brigade during the fighting at Bullecourt. His arm was later amputated, and during his convalescence he learned to write and draw with his left hand, saying, ‘an artist draws with his head, not his hands’. In 1937, Waller was chosen to create the mosaics and stained glass windows in the Australian War Memorial (AWM)’s Hall of Memory.
Serving personnel and veterans are invited to enter an original artwork and artist statement. Entries will be judged by a panel of art experts and professionals, and a winning artwork selected on merit. Entries using diverse artistic media and original concepts are encouraged.
The winning work is accessioned into the AWM collection, with the winning artist receiving a $10,000 cash prize. The winning entrant will also receive the opportunity to undertake a residency program organised by the Art Section at the Memorial.
Entries close midnight Sunday 12 December 2021.
More information, including how to apply, is on the Australian War Memorial website.
