Grandma Moses competition returns

Bruce Illingworth

The popular Grandma Moses art competition for local amateur artists over the age of 50 is back and budding artists have until January 28 to enter.

After a break following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this popular competition is back and now in its 38th year.

The competition is named after American artist Anna Mary Moses, affectionately known as Grandma Moses, who created over 1,500 artworks between the ages of 78 and 101.

Council Administrator Rik Hart said the calibre of entries the competition attracts each year shows age is no barrier to learning new skills.

“The older residents of the Central Coast have a deep well of talent and creativity to dip their paintbrushes into. We want to celebrate that, and all the ways older people contribute to the cultural life of our community,” Hart said.

There’s over $3,000 in prize money to be awarded across six categories, including Open, Watercolour, Novice, 50+ Centre/Senior Centre Art Group Member and Central Coast Inspired.

This year, the competition has added a new category for works inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic.

All entries will be exhibited at the Gosford 50+ Leisure and Learning Centre from March 8 to 10.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony on Tuesday, March 8 from 10am.

Entrants must be 50 years of age or over and be a resident of the Central Coast Local Government Area.

Entry forms and competition guidelines are available on Council’s website.

Primary source: Jan 16,2022 Central Coast Council