By Dr Amy Jackett Curator ‘The Hadley’s Art Prize’ HISTORIC HOBART HOTEL PRESENTS MAJOR NEW ART AWARD
14 with the major announcement of the winner. This will be followed by a large exhibition of finalists’ works displayed in two specially created galleries at the hotel. The exhibition will be open daily and run right through until August 25 and is expected to draw big crowds. The prize is being funded by Don Neil – owner of both Hadley’s Orient Hotel and The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel – who sees it as his legacy; his way of giving back to the state that has provided his family with so much. “David Walsh is my inspiration. His vision to build Mona has been transformative for Tasmania and just like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, this amazing creation has benefited the entire community,” Don said. “I am no expert in art, I am not a collector and I got an ‘E’ for art at school. However, I am passionate about the potential for even more Mona-style cultural tourism because quite frankly this is where Tasmania’s future lies.” While this prize showcases Tasmania’s burgeoning cultural scene, it also shines a light on a Hobart icon, the 183-year-old Hadley’s Orient Hotel. Dating back to 1834, it is fitting that this historic landmark presents the Hadley’s Art Prize. Not only does the hotel have a background intrinsically linked with Australian art, but it has also been restored back to its Victorian ‘glory days’ thereby providing a stunning backdrop for the award. “For its first century and a half, this grand hotel was splendid and considered THE place to stay in Hobart,” Don reminisces. “It was also at the centre of a very vibrant art scene during the 1920s and ‘30s, hosting a number of important art exhibitions. It was also the meeting place for the Art Society further cementing its place in Hobart’s cultural hub. “However, about 50 years ago, all that changed when the hotel lost its way and began looking tired.” When Don bought Hadley’s three years ago, he was buying a vision to restore this faded ‘Grande Dame’ back to its glory days. In close consultation with an expert advisory panel comprising of historians, architects and designers, no expense was spared as the National Trust listed property was authentically restored to reflect the grandeur and decadence of the Victorian era. The charming venue boasts 71 elegantly styled accommodation suites, a range of facilities including the Orient Bar & Dining Room, distinguished event spaces, and the sun-bathed Atrium famous for its Traditional Afternoon Tea Experience made from recipes found in grand homes of the era. The hotel even has a permanent art gallery showcasing reproductions of rare nineteenth-century Tasmanian works. “If you had not been into Hadley’s for a couple of years, you would not recognise the place,” Don said. “It is wonderfully grand once more, and well on the way to becoming one of Australia’s most celebrated historic hotels. An important part of this re-birth is the fabulous new art award.” The judging of the very first Hadley’s Art Prize is now just months away, ensuring the eyes of Australia are not only back on this grand hotel but also on our incredible and unique ‘Island of Art’. Hadley’s Art Prize runs from July 15 – August 25, at Hadley’s Orient Hotel, Hobart For further information contact Dr Amy Jackett, curator curator@hadleysartprize.com.au www.hadleysartprize.com.au
The Hadley’s Art Prize, which burst onto the scene in January, will become another major cultural tourism drawcard for our island state. Believed to be the richest Landscape Art Prize in the world – with a staggering $100,000 on offer to the winner – this annual award is not only a major coup for the art world, but also for Tasmania. It will further cement our reputation as an ‘Island of Art’ helping to attract even more tourists to our shores. Another must-do event to pencil in on the calendar. This latest offering was launched with much fanfare at the newly restored Hadley’s Orient Hotel by Acting Premier – Jeremy Rockliff – who praised it as one of the biggest art prizes not just in Australia, but in the world. “It will firmly put Tasmania on the map as a creative hub and it will be one of the biggest developments in the Tasmanian art community since the opening of MONA,” Mr Rockliff said. “Each year the Hadley’s Art Prize will draw thousands of locals and visitors alike to view the finalists works and to enjoy Tasmania’s rapidly emerging arts scene.” Celebrating and promoting the work of contemporary Australian artists – both established and emerging – is what the Hadley’s Art Prize is all about. However, it is also an award steeped in history. Tasmania has a rich background of landscape art, and this year’s theme is ‘History and Place’: A portrayal of the Australian landscape that acknowledges the past. Designed to complement Hobart’s mid-winter cultural events, the timing of the Hadley’s Art Prize is deliberately strategic. It will directly follow the Festival of Voices, which in turn comes off the back of Dark MOFO, giving another much needed mid-year boost. This exciting new annual event will span six weeks. It will kick-off on July
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