The National Art School today announced the revival of the Dobell Drawing Prize. The new biennial Prize will be presented at NAS Gallery from March 2019, alongside a new drawing symposium that explores the importance of drawing in all its diversity.

The Prize is a biennial competition by submission and will showcase the expanded field of drawing. The inaugural exhibition at the National Art School of The Dobell Drawing Prize will take place from 28 March to 25 May 2019, with the Prize to be announced at the exhibition launch on Wednesday 27 March 2019.

Steven Alderton, Director of the National Art School said:

“The National Art School is delighted to be working with the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation on this very important Prize and exhibition. Drawing is absolutely central to the National Art School’s curriculum, so the opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the many facets of contemporary drawing practice is welcomed. We are very much looking forward to working with the Foundation on the Prize and exhibition, and offering artists another forum to explore the dynamic medium of drawing.”

The Prize celebrates innovation, technical skills and diverse media. A leading Australian artist will be invited to select the finalists and award the prize of $30,000.

The new Dobell Drawing Prize will run in alternative years to the Dobell Australian Drawing Biennial at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, affirming the Dobell Foundation’s commitment to continuing the development of drawing as a medium in its own right, and a fundamental element of the visual arts.

Along with the Prize and exhibition, a drawing symposium positions the National Art School and Sydney at the core of contemporary drawing practice, research and experimentation.

Chairman of The Sir William Dobell Art Foundation Karen Wann said:

“This partnership will be building on a long-standing relationship that we have with the National Art School. It continues to evolve, having commenced with the Dobell Drawing School for Year 11 students more than 20 years ago, and later with the Teach the Teacher program providing professional development for regional teachers. The Dobell Drawing Prize will further enhance our support for art and artmaking across a number of initiatives.

Art Director of The Sir William Dobell Art Foundation Paula Latos-Valier AM said:

“The Dobell Drawing Prize has many great attributes – it is very democratic in that any artist can enter and there are no restrictions to subject matter or medium. This freedom from curatorial constraint is a distinguishing feature. The Prize champions the idea of peer group assessment by inviting respected practising artists to select the finalists and determine the prize-winner.