GROWING the annual E J Mantova Art Prize is a mission close to the heart of Bellingen’s arts community.

Following the tremendous success of this year’s exhibition, which saw record-breaking participation and sales, the Prize will return in 2025 with a new Miniatures category.

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The Prize pays homage to Ernest John Mantova, who is credited as Bellingen’s first professional artist.

Born in Canterbury, NSW, in 1882, Mantova studied at the Julian Ashton Art School before establishing a career as a signwriter and house painter.

It was a roving contract creating advertising murals that brought him to Bellingen in 1931.

He spent the next 20 years producing innumerable landscape works and helping local artists establish their own creative practice.

A letter from Norm Braithwaite to Les and Ella Moodywe, reveals that Mantova “found special pleasure in the grand canvas of hoardings and the huge bare walls of prominent buildings for picturesque murals canvassing the virtues of Lipton Tea, Sunlight Soap and Shell Motor Spirit”.

Upon his death in 1952 the community rallied to celebrate his achievements by way of a Memorial Exhibition at the Bellingen Show.

This event captured the admiration of other friends and art lovers, so the event became an annual art competition in conjunction with the agricultural show.

Artists from Bellingen and beyond are invited to be part of this celebrated local tradition, with the next exhibition planned to run from Saturday, April 26.

Entries open on Monday, February 24, and close on Monday, March 31,

The prestigious art event will once again be hosted at the Bellingen Gallery and Framing Studio, under the enthusiastic stewardship of new owners Jude and Paul Regan.

The EJ Mantova Art Prize is presented by the Bellinger River Agricultural Society and sponsored by Bellingen Shire Council.

By Andrea FERRARI