The Lester Prize, one of Australia’s leading portraiture awards, is set to tour regional Western Australia, exhibiting at the Cannery Arts Centre in Esperance this June.

Thanks to the generous support of the Mt Burdett Foundation, this exciting regional showcase brings nationally recognised portraiture directly to the people, making high-quality art accessible to the Esperance community and visitors alike – all with free entry.

The exhibition will feature an extraordinary selection of finalist works, providing insight into the depth and diversity of contemporary portraiture in Australia. Notable among the 2024 award winners are:

• Ben Howe: Winner of the $50,000 Richard Lester Prize for Portraiture with his work Cartagena Library (2023), an oil on panel measuring 86 x 96 cm.

• Lucinda Tassone: Recipient of the $20,000 Minderoo Foundation Spirit Prize for her piece I love fast food (2024), an oil on masonite, 122 x 91 cm.

• Jenna Pickering: Awarded both the $20,000 Tony Fini Foundation Artist Prize and the $5,000 Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize for her work Together as one (2023), an oil on paperbark, 13 x 6 cm.

In addition to the exhibition, visitors can engage in guided tours, artist talks, and workshops, fostering community connection through art.

“The Lester Prize is about bringing art to the people, and we are thrilled to share this world-class exhibition with the Esperance community,” said Shannon Yujnovich, Executive Director of The Lester Prize. “Thanks to the support of the Mount Burdett Foundation, we can continue making art accessible and inspiring regional audiences.”

The exhibition will run from 6 June to 20 July 2024 at the Cannery Arts Centre, with a rich public program designed to engage all ages, including an artist in residence facilitated through support from the Esperance Ag Fund, a fund of Fremantle Foundation. The initiative aims to bring over 1,200 locals, including school students, and attract visitors to Esperance during the winter season.