In conjunction with its 30th anniversary celebrations, CQUniversity Gladstone has announced it will be holding an art competition, providing a unique opportunity for artists to capture the essence of tertiary education in Gladstone.

The competition is open to artists from anywhere but the organiser, CQUniversity Gladstone Marketing Coordinator Sheryle Gherardi is hoping that the prize money of $2400 will attract a broad range of entries from local artists.

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L-R: CQUniversity graduate and local artist Kristy Smoothy, Pamela Whitlock, Director Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and competition judge, Sheryle Gherardi, Marketing Coordinator CQUniversity Gladstone

"The competition is to find a piece of artwork that depicts what CQUniversity has meant to the Gladstone region over the past 30 years and I believe that local artists will be able to convey this from a community perspective," Sheryle said.

"We are also hoping that school art and design classes will see this as a valuable project for contributing to the history of the local area," she said.  

The competition is open to 2-dimensional art works of any media including photographic art (ensuring that those artists who wish to enhance their works with the use of computer editing, or those who prefer to use alternative media, are able to do so).

"We wanted the criteria to be as open as possible to ensure that a wide range of concepts and ideas in a 2-dimensional media could be accepted."

Pamela Whitlock from the Gladstone Regional Art gallery is excited about the prospect of yet another opportunity for local artists to gain recognition for their work.

"It is an ideal opportunity for artists to stretch their imagination and make the connection between art and education," she said.

Selected art works will be immortalised in a commemorative booklet to be produced featuring the best of the art works. These will be presented to each of the artists and to members of the community who have been integral to the development of the University over the past 30 years.

Entries close on August 11 but artists have until October 15 to deliver their art works to CQUniversity. Judging will be held the following week and an exhibition of the works will be held at CQUniversity from October 22-24.

The entry fee is only $10 and further information is available by dropping into the CQUniversity Campus during business hours or contacting Aimee Bartlett on (07) 4970 7247 or a.bartlett@cqu.edu.au