Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi, the world's largest annual free-to-the-public outdoor sculpture exhibition, which transforms Sydney's Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk each spring, has a major new benefit for Australian sculptors' three $30,000 scholarships to be awarded annually from the Helen Lempriere Bequest.

The Helen Lempriere Scholarships are designed to advance individual artist's careers by enabling them to travel, study and undertake opportunities to further their artistic development.

Each Australian sculptor who applies to be in Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi will be considered, with the three recipients to be chosen by the exhibition's curatorial panel. It is envisaged the scholarships will be awarded to emerging, mid-career and senior Australian sculptors who, once short-listed, will be asked to provide information on how they propose to use the scholarship funds to advance their careers.

David Handley, Founding Director of Sculpture by the Sea said, "This is a great benefit to Australian sculptors and means that within a few short years 10 or more Australian sculptors will have received a $30,000 Helen Lempriere Scholarship."

The Helen Lempriere Bequest is a charitable trust managed by Perpetual, with the purpose of providing scholarships for the applied arts and crafts. In December 2009 after an extensive review, including consultation with a specialist arts consultant, Perpetual identified Sculpture by the Sea Inc. as the most appropriate partner to assist Perpetual with the selection and management of the scholarship.

Andrew Thomas, Perpetual General Manager, Philanthropy said, "We are delighted to have partnered with Sculpture by the Sea to design a scholarship program that provides a wonderful career opportunity to an ever-increasing group of talented and committed Australian sculptors. Their artistic development will be a fitting legacy for Helen Lempriere."

Applications for Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2010 open on 24 February and close on 16 April, with the exhibition to run from 28 October until 14 November.

The curatorial panel to choose the 2010 exhibition is comprised of the following leading figures in the Australian visual arts:

• Belinda Cobby, Curator, City of Perth;

• Geoffrey Edwards, Director, Geelong Gallery and former Curator of Sculpture, National Gallery of Victoria;

• Dr Michael Hill, Author & Lecturer, National Art School; and

• Ron Robertson-Swann OAM, Sculptor and Head of Sculpture, National Art School

For application forms, please contact: julian@sculpturebythesea.com or call +61 2 8399 0233 for further information.

About the Helen Lempriere Bequest
The bequest was created through the will of the Late Keith Wood, husband of the late Australian artist, Helen Lempriere. The bequest began in 1996. Perpetual was appointed as, and continues to be, the sole trustee of the bequest. The terms of the bequest include managing the trust in perpetuity, and distributing the net income in perpetuity via the provision of scholarships for students of applied arts and crafts.

The bequest is a fitting legacy for Helen Lempriere and her belief in supporting Australian artists. As a charitable trust operating in perpetuity, the bequest is able to do this through annual scholarships funded by income it receives from its endowment with Perpetual.

Up until 2008 the bequest supported the annual Helen Lempriere National Sculpture Awards at Werribee Park in Melbourne.

Perpetual is one of the largest managers of private charitable foundations in Australia, with over $1.1 billion in funds under management. Perpetual is trustee to more than 450 charitable trusts which support cultural, medical, social, environmental, religious and educational causes.

Read more about the scholarship