The Ballarat International Foto Biennale is offering a major new portrait prize this year.
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The Martin Kantor Portrait Prize includes a $15,000 cash first prize and will be awarded to the work judged to be an exceptional photographic portrait of a significant Australian.
Martin Kantor was known for his arresting portraits of famous musicians and artists such as Iggy Pop and Howard Arkley.
- Fiona Sweet
Supported by the Kantor family’s Dara Foundation, the acquisitive first prize is named in memory of the late Martin Kantor, photographer and philanthropist.
Martin Kantor was known for his arresting portraits of famous musicians and artists like Iggy Pop, Howard Arkley, painter Adam Cullen and conceptual artist Dale Frank.
His image of Mark Seymour, the lead singer of Hunters and Collectors, was used by the band for an album cover and is a classic representation of Australian rock and roll.
Kantor founded the well-known St Kilda gallery Brightspace and was a strong supporter of indigenous and environmental causes.
Biennale director Fiona Sweet says the criteria sought in the portraits is that the image must give an insight into a significant living Australian, someone who has made a contribution in arts, sport, letters, politics and science.
“We really want significant people from Ballarat,” said Ms Sweet.
“There are some incredibly significant people in Ballarat, and I’d like photographers and artists – it’s photography and photographic media – to contribute.
The selection will be made by a professional panel of judges: Leonard Vary, the CEO of the Myer Foundation; Isobel Crombie, assistant director of the National Gallery of Victoria and Naomi Cass,director of the Centre for Contemporary Photography.
The Foto Biennale is also teaming up with the Athletic Club Brewery in Ballarat to offer The Athletic Club Brewery Ballarat Icons Prize.
This prize is open to all photographers and photo media artists and the focus is the people and landscapes in and around Ballarat. Three winners of the competition will have their artwork converted to labels featuring on Athletic Club beer bottles.
The Ballarat International Foto Biennale runs from 19 August to 17 September.