The University of New England Schools Acquisitive Art Prize (UNESAP) and Let's Hang It! Exhibition

Abstract

The 2014 art exhibition featured a retrospective view of a decade of this unique art event. The exhibition offered a showcase of works by the winners (and runners up) representing each year that the exhibition has been held (first exhibition held in 2004). The retrospective exhibit included 20 works that were chosen by Dr Frances Alter (artistic director) and Ms Michelle Arens (UNE art curator) from amongst nearly 50 exemplary youth artworks currently placed in the University of New England's Art Collection. To mark the retrospective event the exhibition included a summary of textual information gathered in the course of research into the scope and reach of UNESAP as well as the life trajectories of the talented former winners of the UNESAP art prize who have since graduated from high school. A university funded research project undertaken by Dr Frances Alter in 2013 and 2014 titled, the Social Legacy of UNESAP, investigated the life experiences and careers of former winners and finalists aged 19 to 28 years of age. This research focused on assessing participants continued engagement with the Arts - specifically the visual arts. The findings of the research noted that in their post school years, a far higher percentage of former winners had undertaken tertiary Arts study and work in arts-based careers than is reported in the Australian national census data (2012) for study and career choices amongst 18 to 29 year old Australians.