ARTS Mansfield joint coordinator Liz Bannister has commenced arrangements for the Three Faces portrait art prize 2024 and is looking forward to another exciting program for both the participants and the public.

In her absence at the end of the program, president Gill Belle will take over the reins bringing the event to an exciting conclusion.

Expressions of interest from adult and youth artists was published in the Courier on February 14 and these are due on April 12.

The applications will be considered by the committee and three artists from each category will be selected along with the ‘mystery subject’.

The two main events, the Reveal and the Unveiling, will be held again at the Delatite Hotel.

‘The Reveal,’ on Friday, May 3 involves a Cocktail Party when the artists and guests will be introduced to the mystery subject who has been selected from past Mansfield ‘Citizens or Senior Citizens of the Year’.

At this event the public also observe how an artist goes about starting a portrait with photographs and sketches in pencil or paint.

In 2022 Colleen Reynolds proved to be a very popular subject with Jenny Gibney’s winning portrait displaying a fanciful background of flora and fauna reflecting the subjects love of the environment.

The portrait along with previous winners all hang in the shire offices.

Arts Mansfield has again committed to support the youth artists with their endeavours by organising a day’s workshop where they will be mentored by a local artist in the ‘art of portraiture’

The second event, ‘The Unveiling’, is on Thursday, June 6 when the winning adult and youth portraits will be chosen jointly by the shire mayor Steve Rabie and Eric Nash, Director at the Benalla Art Gallery.

The winners of the three student categories will also be announced at this event with awards being presented to the successful younger artists.

As in the past, this evening includes a dinner and a range of madcap games and activities to entertain the guests.

The total prize money of $3200 for the major awards will again be sponsored by Mansfield Shire Council and Liz Bannister has also secured funding from several other local sponsors to accommodate the running expenses.

On behalf of the committee she extends her gratitude to Williams Hunt Bett, The Rural Pool and Will and Margie Twycross.

Arts Mansfield is again looking forward to presenting a popular community event that celebrates the artistic talent abounding in our local community and we encourage a strong response to the request for expressions of interest applications.

Application forms are available in the Courier, online at www.artsmansfield.com and at The Produce Store.