Applications are open until 10 April for the 16th annual Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi exhibition from 18 October – 4 November 2012 with all Australian artists who submit proposals to be considered for one of the three $30,000 Helen Lempriere Scholarships, with a scholarship to be awarded to an emerging sculptor, a mid career sculptor and a senior sculptor.

Since the Helen Lempriere Scholarships were established in association with Sculpture by the Sea in 2010 the following artists from across Australia have been recipients using the funds to travel, study, build websites, purchase computers and improve their studios:

• Matthew Harding, VIC
• Dave Horton, NSW
• Michael Le Grand, ACT
• James Rogers, NSW
• Alessandra Rossi, WA
• Marcus Tatton, TAS

The scholarships are awarded as part of the Helen Lempriere Bequest, a charitable trust managed by Perpetual, with the purpose of providing scholarships for the applied arts and crafts. The bequest was designed to advance individual artists’ careers by enabling them to travel and study. Once this year’s Helen Lempriere Scholarship recipients are announced the bequest will have provided nine Australian artists with $30,000 each in three years.

Other support for sculptors in this year’s Bondi exhibition include:

• The Clitheroe Foundation Emerging Artist Mentor Program of $10,000 for three Australian artists;
• Each artist will receive a minimum subsidy of $2,000 towards their costs - thanks to the support of the new NSW State Government, through Arts NSW;
• The $5,000 Sydney Water Environmental Artist Subsidy for an artist whose sculpture incorporates the natural elements;
• $15,000 of support for artists creating ephemeral site specific work; and
• seven interstate and seven international airfares.

The curatorial panel selecting the Bondi 2012 exhibition and choosing the Helen Lempriere Scholarships is:

• Clara Hali, Sculptor;
• Tony Jones OAM, Sculptor and Principal Lecturer of Sculpture at the Central Institute of Technology, Perth;
• Dr Alan Krell, Associate Professor at the Sherman School of Art History, COFA, UNSW; and
• Ron Robertson-Swann OAM, Sculptor and Head of Sculpture, National Art School.

Application forms are available from www.sculpturebythesea.com, by emailing lucy@sculpturebythesea.com or by calling +61 2 8399 0233. Applications close on Tuesday April 10.