The Premier’s Arts Award
This is one of the most valuable awards in Australia for the craft arts. The winner will have demonstrated excellence of national/international standard, as measured by the quality of the work, to be considered in the context of the exhibitor’s overall presentation.
2024 Premier’s Award Winner
Winner: Mclaren Bespoke (Venue 2B - Site 220)
Stag Bust, incorporating a human like torso, presented in a classical pose. The stag head is often presented as the ultimate wall hung trophy for many sporting hunters, with this piece I like to stretch the viewer imagination to consider the work as being either a sporting trophy or that of homage to the hunter, in traditional early 1900’s hunting attire. I toughly enjoy working in mixed media - particularly different metals, I feel this piece showcases my broad skill set and various techniques.
First Prize: $10,000
Sponsor: Department of Premier and Cabinet
See McLaren Bespoke’s winning sculpture at Venue 2B.
Highly Commended:
Jenna Chartrand Art (Venue 1A - Site 103)
Planet Fab (Venue 2B - Site 236)
2023 Premier’s Award Highlights
Winner: Paul Barton Wood Artist
Paul’s work is intricate in the making. Knuckles form as deciduous trees like London Plane’s are continually trimmed of their lower branches. When that tree eventually dies, Paul takes the knuckles and saves them by wood ‘turning’ them into beautiful pieces. There are many holes in the timber, so to get an outcome that is so delicate and thin takes intuition with the timber, to listen or to shine light through and to get the right speed, so that it doesn’t catch, snap or disintegrate.
First Prize: $10,000
Sponsor: Department of Premier and Cabinet
2022 Premier’s Award Highlights
Winner: Site 514 Ian Clare Studio Potter for the Copper Red Vase. Judges found this to be an outstanding ceramic piece for its form and for the eye-watering glaze from a master potter.
First Prize: $10,000
Sponsor: Department of Premier and Cabinet
2021 Award Winner
Benjamin Timber Studio
2019 Award Winner
Tarrant Guitars
Exhibitor Awards
The Tasmanian Craft Fair presents a range of awards each year recognising excellence in the fields of craft or arts. Exhibitors are automatically entered in any award for which they are eligible, with the exception of the Premier's Award.