A RECORD 427 artists have entered 570 artworks in this year’s Ipswich Art Awards.

The number of artists involved is more than double the entries received last year from a record 203 artists entering 352 works.

Community, Culture, Arts and Sport Committee Chairman Andrew Fechner said the Ipswich Art Awards were the city’s most prestigious arts honour, with the calibre of entries lifting each year.

“Ipswich has a thriving and diverse arts scene, and it’s inspiring to see so many entries from both emerging and established artists,” Cr Fechner said.

“The incredible number of entries this year has exceeded our expectations and will now be shown across two floors at council’s administration building at 1 Nicholas Street between May 27 and June 3.

“It’s incredibly exciting to see each year the richness of diversity and talent in our city’s art scene, and I expect many of the new names we see in this year’s exhibition to become household names in the future.”

Entries include Ipswich Australia Day Awards Cultural Award winner Robin “Tallman” Wakkajinda; Glen Smith, who is the president of Artsconnect; last year’s People’s Choice Award winner Kate Douglas who was selected as a finalist in the 2022 Whitsundays Art Prize and the 2022 John Lesile Art Prize; and Grant Quinn who currently has a solo exhibition at Ipswich Art Gallery.

The 2023 Ipswich Art Awards has nine categories including a People’s Choice, with winners in each category to receive $1,500 prize money plus a Best of Show winner receiving $3,000.

The 2023 exhibition will also include new artwork from last year’s Best in Show category winner Kaitlyn Turner who has since been an Artist in Residence at the Ipswich Art Gallery teaching life drawing and colour mixing techniques.

This year’s entries will be judged by Rachel Arndt and Anna Thurgood.

Ms Arndt has more than 20 years of experience – in Australia and internationally – working with significant cultural collections and of curating, developing and presenting exhibitions and public programs in both major cultural institutions and regional gallery contexts. She currently leads The Condensery in regional Toogoolawah.

Ms Thurgood spent nine years with Artspace Mackay first as a curator and then Director. She continues to curate and bring stories to life in her current role at the State Library of Queensland.

The record number of entries in this year’s awards, together with an anticipated rise in crowd numbers, means changes will be made to the awards presentation on May 26 and 27. Opening night on May 26 will be an artists and judges only event. A public event, Ipswich Art Awards Up Late, has been scheduled for May 27 to celebrate the winners.

Ipswich Art Gallery Director Claire Sourgnes said the diversity and level of interest reflected the appetite for the arts in Ipswich.

“Ipswich Art Awards will showcase the very best of the Ipswich creative community with examples of drawing, mixed media, new media, painting, watercolour, photography, print making and three dimensional work,” Ms Sourgnes said.

“The Ipswich arts scene continues to expand and mature and I encourage the community to enjoy the many wonderful artworks on display at this year’s exhibition.”

Entry to the exhibition is free.