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Newcastle Art Gallery has announced the finalists for the KILGOUR PRIZE 2020.
One of Australia’s major art prizes, the KILGOUR PRIZE awards $50,000 for the most outstanding work of art selected by a judging panel consisting of the Newcastle Art Gallery Director and two invited arts industry representatives. A $5,000 People’s Choice is also awarded to the painting voted most popular by the general public.
This year the 30 finalists were selected from more than 350 entries received from artists across the country. The 2020 finalists include artists from the ACT, NSW, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The list also features two local artists, Michael Bell and Peter Gardiner, who have both been regular entrants to the KILGOUR PRIZE, with the latter winning the KILGOUR PRIZE in 2016.
“Every year the KILGOUR PRIZE presents some of the best contemporary Australian portrait and figurative painting. Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Australian arts sector, the KILGOUR PRIZE has been an incredible opportunity to encourage and support artists to continue producing and creating works of art. This year’s selected artists present diverse interpretations of the brief, resulting in a very dynamic exhibition,” Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton said.
Funded by a bequest from artist Jack Noel Kilgour, the KILGOUR PRIZE has encouraged innovation within portrait and figurative painting since 2006.
The winner will be announced on Friday 31 July 2020 and the KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 will be on display 1 August – 15 November 2020.
2020 Judges:
Lauretta Morton, Director Newcastle Art Gallery
Stephen Gilchrist, curator and Lecturer Art History, The University of Sydney
Rachel Arndt, Gallery Programs and Touring Exhibitions Manager, Museums and Galleries of NSW.
2020 Finalists:
An Sheng, Andrew Bennett, Anh Nguyen, Ben Ryan, Brittany Jones, Bronni Krieger, Corinna Howell, Craig Handley, Dagmar Cyrulla, Daniel Butterworth, Elizabeth Austin, Erik Krebs-Schade, Esther Erlich, Greg Creek, Jacqueline Hennessy, Jordan Richardson, Joshua McPherson, Kenneth Lambert, Kerry McInnis, Kylie Melinda Smith, Lileana Colarelli, Lori Pensini, Lynn Savery, Melissa Ritchie, Michael Bell, Oliver Shepherd, Peter Gardiner, Tony Costa, Tracy Dods, Wendy Sharpe.
For more information – www.nag.org.au/Exhibitions/Future/KILGOUR-PRIZE-2020
ABOUT THE KILGOUR PRIZE
Jack Noel Kilgour (1900–1987) was an Australian artist well-known for his academic approach to landscape and portrait painting. In 1987 Kilgour bequeathed funds for the creation of a major figurative and portrait art competition to be run in perpetuity. As one of Australia’s major art prizes, Newcastle Art Gallery is proud to be the home of the KILGOUR PRIZE.
More information: https://www.nag.org.au/Kilgour-Prize

City of Newcastle welcomes today’s announcement of the successful joint bid from Australia and New Zealand to host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Football Federation Australia (FFA) and New Zealand Football (NZF) have together made history as the first co-Confederation to host a FIFA Women’s World Cup. It will also be the first FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in the southern hemisphere.
McDonald Jones Stadium is expected to be a match venue, with Newcastle forming part of Australia’s bid, bringing thousands of visitors to the city.
Newcastle has also been suggested to play host to some of the visiting teams, based on providing an attractive location for teams to base themselves to stay and train during their world cup campaign.
^{Emerging Jets Squad players Charli Vogtmann, Kalani Dinnery, Annika Driscoll and Rose Harvey with Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes.}
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the vote had Australian – and indeed Novocastrian – football fans cheering.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Australia to showcase the Matildas’ and Newcastle Jets W-League talent on home turf and strengthen ties with our neighbours across the ditch while also unlocking economic benefits and driving positive social impacts for women and girls,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Australia staged the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, which included Newcastle hosting two group stage matches, a semi-final and third place playoff at McDonald Jones Stadium, reinforcing Newcastle’s reputation for hosting world-class sporting tournaments.
“Even more recently, Newcastle hosted the Matildas in the Olympic qualifier against Vietnam at McDonald Jones Stadium on 6 March  in their qualification to the upcoming Olympics.
“Winning the 2023 Women’s World Cup bid reaffirms Australia’s ability to attract top-tier sporting codes and I can’t wait to join fans in the stands here in Newcastle.”
The Australian-New Zealand bid was rated the most technically proficient in FIFA’s report, ahead of Japan and Colombia.
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held from 10 July to 20 August 2023.

A second dedicated fenced off-leash dog area is a step closer to reality with City of Newcastle inviting the community to have their say on the next potential site.
Residents and community groups can provide feedback on dedicated off-leash spaces in Lambton, with areas at Lambton Park and Armstrong Park flagged as potential locations.
^{(L-R): Lambton resident Mark Brooker with dog Wesley, Deputy Lord Mayor Cr Declan Clausen with dog Toby, and Lambton Residents Group member Mary Webster with dogs Jem and Scout at Lambton Park.}
Community feedback received on the Dogs in Open Space Plan showed high demand around the suburb. Council is also exploring opportunities to improve dog infrastructure in Islington, Adamstown and Maryland.
Council has identified the need for additional fenced dog parks across the city under the City’s Dogs in Open Space Plan. Consultation has opened for site selection of the next park and if a suitable site is determined, a more detailed dog park design will be available for community feedback.
Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Declan Clausen said City of Newcastle was committed to providing open spaces where the city’s 45 thousand dogs small and large could safely run free.
“We know that Novocastrians are passionate about their dogs and having dedicated spaces for their canine companions to exercise and socialise safely with other dogs is important to them,” Cr Clausen said.
“A Council survey found 60% of people want more fenced, off-leash dog areas in Newcastle and provided valuable insights on desired features such as shade, seating, signage and designated areas for small and large dogs.
“This is reflected in the overwhelming success and popularity of the City’s first fenced, off-leash dog park at Acacia Avenue, North Lambton, which opened last October and is enjoyed by countless two and four-legged friends on any given day.
“City of Newcastle will incorporate the lessons learned from the success of the Acacia Avenue dog park along with the community’s feedback to continue to deliver on the outcomes of the Dogs in Open Space Plan to provide, improve and manage off-leash dog areas over the next decade.”
Community views are welcome to help select the location of our next fenced off-leash dog area and can be made via newcastle.nsw.gov.au/YourSay until 5pm Thursday 6 August 2020.

Close to forty energy jobs are set to go at the CSIRO – with up to nine coming from Newcastle’s energy research flagship, the CSIRO Energy Centre.
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has slammed the cuts, saying she was ‘deeply concerned’ about the impacts on the capacity of the Energy Centre.
“The scientists at Newcastle’s CSIRO Energy Centre are at the absolute forefront of driving innovation in the energy sector,” Ms Claydon said.
“It’s unconscionable to be cutting staff in an area of research that is so critical to our region and our nation.”
Ms Claydon said that the decision to diminish national energy research capacity was ‘unfathomable’.
“As we grapple with the urgent need to assess and plan for our future energy needs as part of the move to a low-carbon economy, it is short-sighted beyond belief to be slashing our world-class energy research capacity,” Ms Claydon said.
Ms Claydon said any energy research job losses would compound the impacts of the lack of a national energy policy.
“The Morrison Government’s failure to deliver any sort of coherent national energy policy has repelled investment and stopped the creation of thousands of jobs in regions like ours,” Ms Claydon said.
“Even before these cuts, the CSIRO was set to lose more than 500 jobs by the end of this financial year.  I call on the Minister to step in and stand up for these important local and national jobs.”

A man has been charged with damaging a police vehicle after he allegedly kicked the door during an incident where officers were threatened with a knife earlier this week.
Two men, aged 28 and 35, where charged after allegedly threatening officers with a knife during a brawl in Hamilton South about 2.10pm on Tuesday 23 June 2020.
During the brawl, officers will allege in court that a 22-year-old man damaged the police vehicle then ran from the scene.
Investigations led police to arrest the man in Hamilton South, while they were conducting pro-active patrols of the area.
He was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with possess prohibited drug, malicious damage, and affray.
He was refused bail and appeared in Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 25 June 2020).