A busy day
Tuesday this week, 23 August, was a busy day.
In the morning I sent a letter to the Premier on behalf of seven councils in legal actions against forced amalgamation. In this letter, we requested the Premier to:
- Suspend the threat of forced amalgamation;
- Meet with representatives of the councils to discuss how mutually to promote the objectives of both the State Government and local councils; and
- Hold polls of local communities and that majority support be a precondition for merging councils
We have asked the Premier to respond within a week.
In the evening I had the great pleasure of opening the 69th Mosman Art Prize. Established in 1947, our Art Prize is one of the oldest and most prestigious municipal art prizes in Australia and a marvellous creative and community occasion.
Winners of past prizes include many celebrated artists including Margaret Olley (the inaugural winner judged by Australian artist Lloyd Rees), Guy Warren, Grace Cossington-Smith, Elisabeth Cummings, Nancy Borlase, Lucy Culliton and the late Kerrie Lester (a local resident).
The 2016 Mosman Art Prize attracted 762 entries. Of these, 97 have been selected to hang as finalists in this year’s exhibition.
Current prize money for the major prize-winning work, which will be acquired by Council, is $30,000.
The 2016 Mosman Art Prize exhibition will be open for public viewing at Mosman Art Gallery until Sunday 25 September.
The Mosman Art Society Viewers’ Choice Prize of $1,000 will also be awarded at the end of the exhibition. Votes for the Viewers’ Choice Prize can be lodged at the Gallery until Sunday 18 September.