Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Art Prize Awards Night

Minister for Education and the Arts, the Honourable John-Paul Langbroek MP; Shadow Minister for Trade, Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Shadow Minister for Olympic and Paralympic Games, Shadow Minister for Racing, the Honourable Grace Grace MP; Member for Cooper, Ms Jonty Bush MP; Councillor for Central Ward, Brisbane City Council, Councillor Vicki Howard; Royal Queensland Art Society President, Mr Brent O’Neill; Head of Corporate Affairs, The Star Brisbane (and our MC tonight), Ms Karryn Wheelans; artists; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by also acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera peoples, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here this evening.

As Patron of the Royal Queensland Art Society, and someone who is passionate about art and our state’s beautiful capital city, I am so pleased to be with you for the inaugural Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Art Prize, which truly is a celebration of both.

I am delighted to see this welcome addition to our local art scene in the form of a new partnership and this wonderful fresh initiative that encourages Queensland’s amazing established and emerging artists to develop exciting original works.

Charged with the theme of presenting stories of the Greater Brisbane area through artistic expression, the uniquely individual interpretations created by the 46 finalists, serve to highlight the power of art to inform, tantalise and bedazzle simultaneously—which, of course, makes our state a much richer, and more vibrant place.

This evening, as well as commending those who made it through the selection process as finalists, I thank all of the Queenslanders who put their work forward for consideration. It not only takes enormous skill and ability to transform a blank canvas but also requires tremendous courage.

I am so glad that people will have a chance to view the winning works, and a selection of others, right here at this beautiful venue in the heart of Brisbane. 

I thank the hardworking judges who had the unenviable task of choosing tonight’s winners, and of course, I extend my gratitude to all those at The Star and Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, and the generous sponsors, who made this event possible.

I acknowledge the outstanding efforts of the President, Committee, Staff, Fellows, and volunteers of the Royal Queensland Art Society, Brisbane, which, despite being Queensland’s oldest art society, has always moved with the times, and continues to be a champion for all forms and styles of creative expression, and of the artists themselves.

And finally, I congratulate all of our wonderful creators for enlivening and enriching Greater Brisbane’s extraordinary places—because, whether these works are of well-known landmarks or hidden spots, such interpretations capture the diverse moods and the charm of the city we all love.

Please enjoy this special celebratory evening.