9 April 2016 to 5 June 2016

Composite of two winning artworks. A painted portrait of a man painted in a historical style and a photograph of a young man sitting at an attraction surrounded by shark like structures.

Images L to R: Warren Crossett, Self-portrait after St Jerome Flanders, Winner Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2015; Trent Mitchell Boy in Boat, Hervey Bay Qld, Winner Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2015.

In 2016 the 2015 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize and Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize were exhibited at Hazelhurst.

The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize is the richest award for excellence in portrait painting in Australia with an annual first prize of $150,000. Following the exhibition of the 2015 Prize Finalists at Juniper Hall in Paddington the Moran Art Foundation toured the exhibition to regional galleries in 2016 beginning with Hazelhurst.

Founded by Doug & Greta Moran and family in 1988, the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize is an annual event aimed at encouraging the development of the portraiture skills of Australian artists and increasing the awareness and appreciation of Australian visual arts. Artists must interpret the look and personality of a chosen sitter, either unknown or well known. The exhibition included prize winning portraits by 30 Australian artists and featured sitters Robyn Nevin, Kirk Pengilly, Edmund Capon and Euan Macleod.

Image: Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

The Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize, established in 2007, is a national competition that awards and promotes Australian contemporary photography.

The Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize invited photographers to interpret ‘Contemporary Life in Australia’ with an emphasis on Australians going about their day-to-day life. The aim was to encourage the production of photographs taken in Australia, by Australians, that reflect the multiculturalism and uniqueness of Australian life.

The exhibition featured the works of 30 photographers including this year’s winner, Trent Mitchell for his photo Boy in Boat, Hervey Bay Qld 2015 (pictured above).

Accompanying the two exhibitions was the 2015 Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize – Students, an exhibition of the winners and finalist works of students in Years K to 12.

The exhibition included photographic works from three Sutherland Shire Students and was on show at Moran Gallery Sylvania from 31 March to 29 May 2016. The Moran Gallery is a collaboration between Moran Health Care Group and Hazelhurst Arts Centre.

Image: Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

Image: Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2015, installation view. Photograph by Silversalt Photography.

The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize was a Moran Arts Foundation touring exhibition.