Wyndham Art Prize 2023 had greater than 550 artworks submitted for the judges consideration. Of those, 71 were selected as finalists for 2023’s exhibition including nine local artists. Artworks included sculptures, paintings, drawings, ceramics, photography, video, prints, and many other distinctive creations.
The top award of the Wyndham Art Prize was created by Arrayah Loynd with the artwork an archival pigment print on cotton rag (Not pictured).
Wyndham Art Prize opening gala was on Wednesday 16 August and the artworks will remain on display until 22 October. It really is worth attending an opening gala to take in the atmosphere, meet a number of the artists and get a fuller appreciation of the artworks on display.
Wyndham Art Prize has a peoples choice award so if you have an entirely different taste than the judges you can participate and potentially reward another artist for their efforts.
The Wyndham Art Prize is held annually and we make an effort to attend the opening gala each year. I have to admit attendance seemed to be a bit down this year although it is probably an intangible as to what creates a crowd. Even so, for a week night during the winter period a great crowd still gathered.
Everybody has their own tastes so we do not try and indicate what we think are the best pieces of art. We all have our own life stories and what art connects with each individual is a personal experience. I personally enjoy something a bit unusual so the artwork with the fox or the bear with an axe kind of appeals to me.
Some people will enjoy the more traditional paintings or ceramics while that may leave others stone cold. There was a pretty good variety of art on display although arguably some of the political pieces verge on cliche. It is hard to communicate something in a nuanced and subtle way but in your face story-telling doesn't generally persuade people.
The Wyndham Art Prize is a showcase event so try and enjoy the artwork, ponder any messages the artist may be trying to communicate and just treasure the creativity and efforts of the artists who have participated. Their work is the communities gain.
Location
Wyndham Art Prize 2023 is housed at Wyndham Art Gallery 177 Watton St, Werribee VIC 3030. Being on the main shopping and dining street in Werribee the art gallery is very easy to find.
Nearby Attractions
You've made it to the Wyndham Art Prize 2023 in Werribee. Why not consider dining out in West Melbourne and Beyond:
If the weather is good why not go on a walk in West Melbourne and Beyond. Plan ahead so you leave early enough!
Waterfalls in West Melbourne and Beyond
Why not visit a waterfall in West Melbourne and Beyond.
What's On Melbourne and the West: 14-16 July
What's on in Melbourne and the West this weekend 14-16 July? Enjoy Carole King The Musical at Altona City Theatre, Footscray Arts Prize opening on Saturday or the Show Your West-Side Art Exhibition on Friday 14 July, railways for the kids at Altona and Bulla Hill, plus lots of recurring events. There are plenty of markets on as well including the Williamstown Craft Market on Sunday and Yarraville Farmers and Craft and Recycling on Saturday.
Show Your West-Side (Footscray)
Show Your West-Side Art Exhibition in Footscray from 14 July to 11 August. Experience 200 of the best inner west artists in this year's 'Show Your WEST-SIDE' are Prize and Exhibition. Opening night celebration 14 July 5:30PM-8:30PM with food, drinks entertainment.
Original image: www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au
Beautiful Carole King Musical (Altona)
Beautiful Carole King Musical at Altona City Theatre 7-22 July. Booking out FAST!!! Before she was hit-maker Carole King she was Carole Klein, a spunky young songwriter from Brooklyn with a unique voice. Hear the hits and be entertained!
Initial Image: www.altonacitytheatre.com.au
Newport Railway Museum
Newport Railway Museum, open every Saturday 12PM-5PM, 26 Champion Rd Newport. Entrance fees apply. Contains steam, diesel and electric trains as well as a host of other railway exhibits.
Image by Freepik
Footscray Art Prize 2023
Footscray Art Prize 2023 Opening and Prizes Announcement, Sat 15 July 3PM-5PM. Reserve your tickets.
Original image: https://footscrayarts.com/
Altona Miniature Railway - Public Open Day
The Altona Miniature Railway is open on every 3rd Sunday of the month between 10am and 3pm (last train). Fees Apply.
Altona Miniature Railway is a hobby club run by railway enthusiasts that provide miniature train rides on scaled steam and diesel engines (5" and 7 1/4" gauge), on a 1.5 km length track. Great fun for kids and the young at heart.
The Altona Miniature Railway is located at 1/21 Blenheim Rd, Newport VIC 3015.
Yarraville Village Craft Market
Yarraville Village Craft Market
Yarraville Village Craft Market
Ezi-streat Foodhall (North Melbourne)
Street food hall, beer garden and community space in North Melbourne, Fri-Sat 8AM-11PM, Sun 8:30AM-9PM. A celebration of street food and community spirit! Features a number of pop-up stalls, multicultural comfort food for locals and new visitors.
Image: www.facebook.com/ezistreat
Grazeland (Spotswood)
Heaps and heaps of food stalls and live musical entertainment. Located at 20 Booker Street, Spotswood (next to Scienceworks). Friday - 5pm to 10pm, Saturday - 12 noon to 10pm, Sunday - 12 noon to 9pm.
Grazeland (Spotswood)
B-24 Liberator Hangar Visits (Werribee)
B-24 Liberator Visits to the Hangar. Admission is only a $10 donation per person. Attendance at an engine run is an extra $10. Restoration work visit. No entry charge for visitors under 16 years of age. Enjoy celebrating part of Australia's aviation history.
Image: www.b24australia.org.au
Bulla Hill Railway
Bulla Hill Railway third Sunday of the month, 12PM-4PM. Enjoy the dinosaurs and take the kids for a train ride. Appropriate footwear required and fees apply for the train ride.
Bulla Hill Railway
RAAF Museum (Point Cook)
RAAF Museum. BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL! Explore more than 100 years of Australian Air Force history. Learn about the Australian Flying Corps, the courage of Australia's Second World War aviators, and the service of thousands of men and women serving Australia at home and abroad in times of peace and war.
Original Image: www.airforce.gov.au
Williamstown Craft Market
Williamstown Craft Market
Williamstown Craft Market
Creswick Market
Creswick Market
Creswick Market
Darley Community Market (Bacchus Marsh)
Darley Community Market (Bacchus Marsh)
Darley Community Market (Bacchus Marsh)
Eynesbury Heritage Trail Junior Parkrun
Eynesbury Heritage Trail Junior Parkrun (FREE). Free weekly 2km event that takes place at 8AM every Sunday morning in the Eynesbury forest and is open to 4 to 14-year-olds. Supervised by a team of volunteers who all hold current Working With Childrens Checks. Please register ahead of the run. Refer to website.
Plan ahead for these irregular or once-off markets and events.
Yewers St Twilight Str-eats (Footscray)
Twilight Str-eats returns to Footscray at 2 Yewers st, 5:30PM-10:30PM select Fridays May through August 2023. Live music, great food, fantastic atmosphere during Melbourne's colder months. Make an effort and you will be rewarded. Dates 21 July, 25 August.
When: Friday, 21 July 5:30PM-10:30PM
Suburb: Footscray
Image: www.fourpeople.com.au
Come and Try Day Skate Day (West Footscray)
Love to skate, want to learn or curious about roller derby? Come and Try Day brought to you by WestSide Roller Derby is on 23 July at 9am at RecWest Footscray Skates and safety gear available to borrow or you can bring your own. This event is for ages 16+, all genders welcome. Skate Fit is a skate program, and it sets you up for roller derby training.For more information and to register, please email recruitment@westsidederbydollz.org.au.
When: Sunday, 23 July 9AM-12PM
Suburb: West Footscray
Image: www.facebook.com/WestSideRollerDerby
Soho Village Market (Point Cook)
Soho Village Market (Point Cook), Sat 29 July 1PM-6PM. Christmas in July market, handmade, food, fun, live music.
When: Saturday, 29 July 1PM-6PM
Suburb: Point Cook
Image: www.instagram.com/p/CuQZffGrMvq/
Keilor Village Night Market
Keilor Village Night Market, Wed, 2 August, 6PM – 9PM at he Keilor Bowls Club. Gold coin donation entrance fee applies.
When: Wednesday, 2 August 6PM – 9PM
Suburb: Keilor
Image: www.facebook.com/thevillagenightmarketau
Family Games Night (Tarneit)
Family Games Night in Tarneit, first Friday of the month 5:30pm - 7:30pm, Dianella Community Centre, 6 Congo Drive, Tarneit West. A great way to socialize and get to meet new friends. Play traditional board games with family and new friends. This is a family community event. Everyone is welcome. FREE event but please RSVP to ensure sufficient space and games are available for everyone. Also you are welcome to bring a plate of refreshment to share.
When: Friday, 4 August 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Suburb: Tarneit
Image: www.wyndham.vic.gov.au
Market at Wheelers (Werribee)
Market at Wheelers (Werribee), 12 August 5PM-9PM, food trucks, live music, market stalls, cocktails and beers.
When: Saturday, 12 August 5PM-9PM
Suburb: Werribee
Image: www.facebook.com/thatsmineevents
Wyndham Art Prize Gala Event (Werribee)
Wyndham Art Prize Gala Event (Werribee). More than 550 works were entered and 71 were shortlisted for the exhibition, 9 being local artists. Gala opening event will be held on Wed 16 August, 6.30PM to 8.30PM. All entrants, art-lovers and community members are welcome to the FREE event.
When: Wednesday, 16 August 6:30PM-8:30PM
Suburb: Werribee
Original image: www.wyndham.vic.gov.au
Altona Beach Film Festival
Altona Beach Film Festival is a short film competition. The competition is open to the world and committed to encouraging creativity and building community in the inner western suburbs of Melbourne.
When: Saturday, 19 August 7PM
Suburb: Altona
Image: www.altonabeachfilmfestival.com.au
Yewers St Twilight Str-eats (Footscray)
Twilight Str-eats returns to Footscray at 2 Yewers st, 5:30PM-10:30PM select Fridays May through August 2023. Live music, great food, fantastic atmosphere during Melbourne's colder months. Make an effort and you will be rewarded. 25 August.
When: Friday, 25 August 5:30PM-10:30PM
Suburb: Footscray
Image: www.fourpeople.com.au
Footscray Community Arts Centre Makers Market
Footscray Community Arts Centre Makers Market plays only three times a year. Sat 26 August and Sat 9 Dec from 9AM-3PM. Hand-made goods, stalls with a vibrant, bespoke product range. Locally produced. Support your community makers and artisans!
When: Saturday, 26 August 9AM-3PM
Suburb: Footscray
Footscray Community Arts Centre Makers Market
Family Games Night (Tarneit)
Family Games Night in Tarneit, first Friday of the month 5:30pm - 7:30pm, Dianella Community Centre, 6 Congo Drive, Tarneit West. A great way to socialize and get to meet new friends. Play traditional board games with family and new friends. This is a family community event. Everyone is welcome. FREE event but please RSVP to ensure sufficient space and games are available for everyone. Also you are welcome to bring a plate of refreshment to share.
When: Friday, 1 September 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Suburb: Tarneit
Image: www.wyndham.vic.gov.au
Superhero Weekend (Sanctuary Lakes)
Superhero Weekend (Sanctuary Lakes), 9-10 Sep, 11AM-2PM. FREE activities including meet and greets with superheroes, face painting and even superhero outfit making. Pose for a photo and test your strength to see if you could be the next member of the Avengers!
When: Saturday, 9 September 11AM-2PM
Suburb: Sanctuary Lakes
Original image: www.sanctuarylakessc.com.au
Market at Wheelers (Werribee)
Market at Wheelers (Werribee), 9 September 5PM-9PM, food trucks, live music, market stalls, cocktails and beers.
When: Saturday, 9 September 5PM-9PM
Suburb: Werribee
Image: www.facebook.com/thatsmineevents
Market at Wheelers (Werribee)
Market at Wheelers (Werribee), 14 October 5PM-9PM, food trucks, live music, market stalls, cocktails and beers.
When: Saturday, 14 October 5PM-9PM
Suburb: Werribee
Image: www.facebook.com/thatsmineevents
Soho Village Market (Point Cook)
Soho Village Market (Point Cook), Sat 21 Oct 10AM-2PM. October market, petting zoo, facepainting, kids activities, food, stalls, live music.
When: Saturday, 21 October 10AM-2PM
Suburb: Point Cook
Image: www.instagram.com/p/CuQZffGrMvq/
Footscray Community Arts Centre Makers Market
Footscray Community Arts Centre Makers Market plays only three times a year. Sat 9 Dec from 9AM-3PM. Hand-made goods, stalls with a vibrant, bespoke product range. Locally produced. Support your community makers and artisans!
When: Saturday, 9 December 9AM-3PM
Suburb: Tarneit
Image: www.facebook.com/Footscrayarts
Soho Village Market (Point Cook)
Soho Village Market (Point Cook), Sat 20 Jan 10AM-2PM. January market, petting zoo, facepainting, kids activities, food, stalls, live music.