Second Rottnest Island art award underway this weekend

Rottnest will become a haven for student artists this weekend when the second annual Rottnest Island Student Art Award gets underway.

Tourism Minister Pam Beggs said the award had attracted 62 students from 16 tertiary institutes throughout Western Australia.

Under the award, students spend a weekend on the island gathering information and material which is used in preparing an artwork in any medium depicting Rottnest.

The award is sponsored by Jackson Drawing Supplies, Boat Torque Cruises, SHRM Catering and the Rottnest Island Authority.

The winning student receives a $500 prize and a perpetual trophy is presented to the student's college.

Mrs Beggs said the R&I Bank had again offered to display the entries in the foyer of the R&I Tower in St George's Terrace.

Last year's award attracted 56 artworks.  The winner was Rachel Harris from the Great Southern Regional College in Albany with her painting, Looking through a window of the past.  The painting is on display in the RIA's office on Rottnest.

Mrs Beggs said institutes that had nominated students for this year's award were Curtin; Edith Cowan; Albany; Midland; Claremont; Carine; Hedland; Karratha; Bunbury; Fremantle; Esperance; Kalgoorlie; Perth; Geraldton; Rockingham and the University of Western Australia.