Gab Titui Cultural Centre Hosts Second Consecutive Indigenous Arts Award For Immediate Release 22/06/2009 The Gab Titui Cultural Centre hosted its second consecutive ‘Indigenous Art Award’ on Friday evening, 19 June 2009. The Award aims to enhance the quantity and quality of Torres Strait Island art, whilst giving local artists professional experience in exhibition protocol. An impressive variety of art work was submitted by 55 artists across 15 communities in the Torres Strait including headdresses, paintings, drawings, sculptures, mosaics and carvings. Mr George Nona of Badu Island was named the “Gab Titui Indigenous Art Award Winner”, receiving $5,000 in prize money for his headdress titled “Torres Strait Spiritual Headdress”. “Runner Up” was Mr Tony Harry of Warraber Island, for his water colour painting “Kowbu Rugal”, taking home a cash prize of $2,000. Subcategory winners were – “Best Craft Work” ($500): Mr George Mosby; “Best Cultural Artefact” ($500): Mr Jeff Aniba-Waia; “Best 2D Work” ($500): Mr Harry Nona; and “Best Secondary Work” ($500): Mr George Gabey. Community members still have the opportunity of voting in the “People’s Choice Award”, with the winner set to receive a prize of $1,000. The winner will be announced in the Torres News towards the end of July. TSRA Deputy Chairperson, Ms Napcia Bin Tahal, recognized the artist’s participation as contributing to the exhibition’s resounding success. “There is a strong diversity of art practice illustrating the dynamic cultural production of art from this unique part of the country”, said Ms Bin Tahal. “This is a great opportunity for artists who may not have had exhibition experience to get an idea and be comfortable presenting their work in a gallery space. We hope artists see this as an important step in getting their work out into gallery spaces, building a body of work for exhibition and developing their professional practice. Guest Judge, Mrs Tina Baum, Curator of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Art at the National Gallery of Australia, based her selection for each of the categories on quality and individuality. Mrs Baum told guests, “It was very inspirational to see so many diverse works and ingenious use of natural, artificial and recycled materials”. A catalogue containing photographs of all work featured in the exhibition will be available for purchase at the Gab Titui Cultural Centre from the beginning of August 2009. END TSRA Media Contact: Emma Loban 40902130