Vera Cooper
Our world is a Midden, Holding the Past, Present and Future, 2008

The next Indigenous Ceramic Art Award (ICAA) is scheduled for February – April 2012 and is held bi-annually. The ICAA was developed by Shepparton Art Gallery to support Indigenous ceramic artists and acknowledge the special industry of ceramic art practice. The awards encourage and stimulate excellence in this sphere, providing cultural exchange opportunities for Indigenous artists from around Australia and regional Victoria. This biennale award exhibition surveys current Indigenous ceramic art practise, demonstrates current developments in the field including contemporary and traditional works. An exciting public program of cultural activities also accompanies the exhibition and typically includes: ceramic workshops with artists, exhibition floor talks, ceramic workshops for children, and ceramic workshops for Indigenous men and women. Shepparton Art Gallery is a regional gallery with a unique focus. It collects Australian ceramics from the 19th and 20th century and its ceramic collection is one of the best in Australia. Shepparton Art Gallery’s collection of Australian and International ceramics now spans over 3000 works. Due to the Indigenous Ceramic Art Award the gallery now has a growing collection of contemporary Aboriginal ceramics. The Indigenous Ceramic Art Award is made possible with the generous support of The Sir Andrew and Lady Fairley Foundation, Margaret Lawrence Bequest, FRRR, S.J. Rothfield Family Fund (Melbourne Community Foundation) and the Sarah and Ballieu Myer Foundation.