FOREWORD

The 2020 iteration of our prestigious Percivals Portrait Prize will be different in some significant ways, which I will touch on briefly here, but I am sure that you will be pleased with the results. In many ways, these changes link back to the roots of the Prize, which in its day was a much humbler affair, as well as reaching forward to the future, where we have some exciting plans for The Percivals.

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing repairs of the Pinnacles Gallery, we have been forced to hold both prizes at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery. While this is a challenge— The Percivals is usually subject to a ‘full’ hang at the best of times— it has allowed us the exciting opportunity of reintegrating the Photographic Prize with the Painting Prize. I am personally excited to see works from both prizes side by side, and I know that many photographers will be happy to be on equal visual footing with the painters once again.

What this also means, however, is that we have had to institute a much more rigorous selection process. We have not been able to accept as many entries, naturally, without the larger Pinnacles space, but this has upped the ante in terms of what has and has not been included. In the name of transparency, we have been fortunate to work with a selection committee of three arts industry professionals for each prize; namely artists Ray Cook and Andrew Rankin, and Broken Hill Regional Gallery Director, Tara Callaghan, for the Photographic Prize, and artist and Archibald finalist, Catherine Edney, Artspace Mackay Director, Tracey Heathwood, and Benalla Art Gallery Director, Eric Nash, for the Painting Prize. They have each gone through every entry and assigned scores accordingly. These scores were then averaged between the three, and the cut-off was subsequently determined by available space. Once installed, the judges, artist, academic and Archibald finalist, Julie Fragar, and artist, Michael Marzik, for the Painting and Photographic prizes, respectively, have the unenviable task of going through the exhibition and selecting the winners.

We are honoured to work with the 2020 judges and selection committees, who have been invited on the basis of having a broad range of experiences to draw upon. Those that didn’t make it into the final selection can take heart in the fact that their work has been seen by three sets of professional eyes that may be able to help in the future. This is a tough process, yes, but I am sure you will agree that the resulting exhibition is a conversation starter at the very least!

Thank you to every entrant, finalist, and of course congratulations to the two prize winners.

All the best,

Jonathan McBurnie Creative Director Townsville City Galleries