The Live Red Art Award and Festival, an initiative supported by Cultural Dissent seeks to promote and recognize art that investigates a radical social and political perspective.
To be judged at a festival planned for early October, 2010 in Sydney, the prize of $3000 (with a people's choice award of $500) will be awarded to an individual artist or group of artists whose work of art best reflects the motto: "Another world is possible, but we must fight for it".
The award and festival is an initiative of members of the Socialist Alliance in eastern Sydney and has already drawn sponsorship and support from Sydney artists and supporters of political art and culture.
Entries will be open to artists across Australia. A condition of entry is that, regardless of the type of art entered, it must be protest art. It must also be able to be performed, installed or mounted by the entrants at the festival itself — hence the concept of "live red art".
This work of art should explore how we can live together in a new way; have the potential of having a mass impact; and aim to inspire social change and raise political awareness.
"Live Red Art presents a unique opportunity for local artists and cultural activists who recognise the connection between art, culture, social life and political change", Haskell Musry, a member of the LRA steering committee told Green Left Weekly. "We welcome a range of art forms and media into the festival, including all forms of visual and graphic art, performance art, including poetry and street theatre, as well as interactive art and new media. The only limitation will be the size and scale of the work and its ability to be performed at the festival itself."
Donations to the project or add to the award pool are welcome and are tax deductible. Individuals and organisations that donate $500 or more will be publicly acknowledged on promotional material unless they would prefer to remain anonymous.
Volunteers wishing to help to organise the award and festival are invited to contact the steering committee at the email address below.
More information about the award and details of entry, as well as opening and closing dates will be announced in GLW next month.
For more information about Live Red Art, or to inquire about becoming a sponsor or a volunteer please email red_art@rocketmail.com.