A shopping centre in the Sydney CBD says its annual emerging artists exhibition is growing in popularity as customers move from curious observers to becoming active participants in the program.

The Galeries’ annual Emerging Artist Exhibition held throughout June, has seen five finalists selected by Art Months’ artistic director, Barry Keldoulis with the winner to nab a $4,000 cash prize and a year- long mentorship with Keldoulis. Shoppers also have the chance to vote for their favourite with the People’s Choice Award winner

Speaking to Inside Retail, Ipoh [The Galeries owner] Group marketing manager Melissa Prpic said that since launching the emerging artists program, more consumers were engaging with the initiative.

“Art installations at The Galeries always provide a talking point among our customers and retailers alike and the Emerging Artist exhibition is no different,” she said.

“In 2016, we received 500 unique votes for the artwork and artists displayed in the exhibition. This year, we have received 200 in only four days. The engagement and response to the activation is growing just as the curiosity is.”

Prpic said the program provided emerging artists with a unique platform to showcase their talents.

“The Galeries’ partnership with Art Month reflects our ongoing commitment to providing alternative experiences in centre that allow our customers to be a part of a new and exciting conversation, redefining contemporary culture,” she said.

The artists work is on display in the centre’s five designated public art spaces – the four laneways and the central atrium. Each artist has been inspired by far-ranging motivations from Hana Hoogedeure’s ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ to Zoe Wong’s’ inspiration -Disney’s Mulan. Fold manipulation and chance has instigated the works from Joanne Makas while the pieces from Robin McIntyre Hearfield showcase Greek fable through the medium of virtual space. Zac Harold, the director at Stacks Project, has explored the recreation of space and mundane objects.

It’s not the first artistic activation embarked on by The Galeries, after last year saw large scale mural designs occupy the lower ground floor of the centre.

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