The team behind the Bat Flats Art Competition have secured an amazing judge for this unique competition.

Determining the winning flats, or ‘Going a little batty’ as he says, will be Joe Eisenberg, OAM, who has just retired from ten years of notable work at the Maitland Regional Art Gallery as its Cultural Director.

Under his direction the Maitland home of arts has become one of the biggest and arguably the most successful public art spaces in regional Australia.

“The Bat Flats Art Competition really grabbed me – it’s a great idea, and it emanates from regional Australia too,” said Mr Eisenberg.

“Having a specific theme for an arts prize makes it distinct and this theme is really quite different. It makes artists and creative types think – it gets them making something new – and that’s good for art and the art community,” he said.

“I encourage everyone to ‘go a little batty’ and get their entries in.”

Wood workers, ceramic sculptors, mosaic artists, acrylic and oil painters, and hobbyists are encouraged to create their bat flats and be in the running to share the $10,000 prize pool.

Competition details can be found at www.batflats.com.au. Entry to the competition is free and should be lodged by 5pm, 31 August 2015.

Following Joe’s judging, the Bat Flats Art Competition exhibition will be held over the October long weekend (2-5 October) at Tea Gardens.

The Bat Flats Art Competition is conducted by the Myall River Art Walk under the auspices of the not-for-profit Galleries In The Gardens, at Tea Gardens.