Entries for the 2018 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art prize are open as we continue our efforts to inspire, promote and connect the country’s female visual artists and help redress the gender imbalance in the Australian art world.

In February we staged an exhibition of works by the 2017 Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize Professional Artist Prize winner, Joan Ross and Emerging Artist Prize winner, Katrina Collins. Both women visited Ravenswood’s senior art classes in February to discuss their inspirations and process, and take questions on broader artistic themes.

Joan Ross won the respected Sulman Prize in 2017 for her piece Oh History You Lied to Me, which was last year hung in the Art Gallery of NSW and forms part of the current Ravenswood exhibition. She works predominantly in digital video, using colonial painter John Glover’s landscapes as a backdrop for complex and layered pieces filled with double meanings and “personal secrets”. Her themes include the impact of colonialism and concepts around the naming and ownership of things. Joan’s advice to the students working in an artistic space or any domain is to persevere with intention –‘be dogged,’ she urged.

Katrina Collins’ richly coloured and joyful abstract works are inspired by the everyday beauty in nature and manmade constructs. In an afternoon tutorial, she advised the girls to be open to the unexpected and emphasised the fulfilment of working as an artist alongside more traditional careers.

‘It was really interesting to hear how different parts of her life came together in the expression of her work,’ said Year 11 student, Taylor. ‘I had seen her paintings on the walls in the Ravenswood gallery and thought they were beautiful but it has been really inspiring to discover the story behind them,’ said 16 year old Ava.

The organisers of the Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize are working towards developing a curriculum with a range of artists each year, creating resources for everyone across Australia.

It is hoped such resources will be accessed for free online, ‘to encourage more women artists into the classroom and provide an additional way for female artists to be supported,’ said Ravenswood’s Head of Visual Arts, Edwina Palmer.

The theme for the 2018 Prizeis Resilience. Entries close on 17 April and the announcement of winners and exhibition Opening Night will be held on 15 June.