THE National Gallery (Castellani House) announced its 9th National Drawing Competition, sponsored by Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited via a recent press release. The National Drawing Competition has been a biennial event first presented by Castellani House in 1996 and received unwavering sponsorship from Republic Bank for fifteen years until 2010. The 2012 biennial competition, having been postponed due to a clash in event scheduling last year, is now relaunched with renewed support from the bank.

An increase in funding by Republic Bank to over $700,000 allows the gallery to offer a First Prize of $150,000, a Second Prize of $100,000 and a Third Prize and Young Person’s Prize of $50,000 and $35,000, respectively. Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will also be awarded to competition winners.
Republic Bank’s sponsorship of the National Drawing Competition is part of their ‘Power to make a difference’ initiative, where support and promotion of social and cultural projects are provided across Guyana.
The gallery’s biennial competitions themselves were launched to support the artists’ community and further, to highlight particular aspects of art practice, while increasing an appreciation of artists’ technical and expressive skills.
All Guyanese artists are eligible to enter and can submit up to three works for competition, which will be judged and presented in a prize-giving ceremony and exhibition opening in December. The deadline for entries to be submitted to the National Gallery, Castellani House, on Vlissingen Road, Georgetown, is Saturday, November 30, next.
Competition rules and conditions and application forms will be available shortly on the National Gallery’s Facebook page and enquiries can also be made at the gallery’s office via telephone number 225 0579.