To be held every three years, the inaugural Splash: McClelland Contemporary Watercolour Award has been established to showcase Australian artists who work in the medium of watercolour.

 

It is an acquisitive award with funds from the Fornari Bequest, by the will of the late Lena May Fornari and is a legacy of her support of the arts in Victoria. Lena May was an ardent collector of the watercolourist Herbert Rose, whose works she also left to McClelland, and the first acquisitions through this Bequest were significant watercolours. Continuing this tradition, Splash focuses on contemporary Australian watercolour practice.

 

The Splash: McClelland Contemporary Watercolour Award is granted for an outstanding original art work in the medium of watercolour, which will become part of the McClelland Sculpture Park+Gallery collection. The award aims to promote artistic excellence and to support contemporary artists, while expanding McClelland’s high quality collection for the benefit of the local community and Mornington Peninsula region.

 

• $30, 000 awarded to the most worthy original work in watercolour, judged by Linda Michael, independent curator and editor.
• $10, 000 awarded for a highly commended work, judged by Samantha Comte, Curator, The Ian Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne