Incinerator Art Award is the annual premier art award for the City of Moonee Valley. This event represents a pinnacle in our exhibition schedule, dedicated to fostering positive social innovation within the local community and across Australia. With a total prize pool of $12,000, the Incinerator Art Award offers three prestigious awards, including the $10,000 Incinerator Art Award, the $1,000 Moonee Valley Mayoral Award and the $1,000 People's Choice Award. The opening celebration and award presentation will take place on Friday, 6 October at 6pm, where the winners of the Incinerator Art Award and Moonee Valley Mayoral Award will be announced. This year’s Award received a remarkable response, with over 250 submissions from established and emerging artists from every state in Australia. The shortlisted artists passionately present diverse artworks exploring critical social issues, delving into themes such as Indigenous heritage, queer histories, environmental concerns, cultural revitalisation, identity, gender, climate crisis, and colonial legacies. Through paintings, sculptures, videos, and installations, they invite viewers to reflect on the complexities of our world and its potential for transformation. Inspired by the visionary ideals of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, the architects of the historic incinerator building, we strive to embrace their belief in the harmonious integration of modernist architecture with nature, promoting environmentalism and social equity. The Griffins' ethos, born in the early 20th century, continues to resonate with contemporary culture, amplifying the significance of the Incinerator Art Award. Our esteemed guest judges for the Incinerator Art Award 2023 are Andrew Tetzlaff, Jessica Clark, and Nathan Beard. During the exhibition visitors are invited to vote for the People's Choice Award, which will be announced on Friday, 24 November. Please join us to delve deeper into this exhibition at the Artist Talk on Saturday, 11 November. We are also offering two Fungi Town art-making workshops — one for adults and one for children — on Saturday, 14 October. Tickets essential. Artist(s): Agus Wijaya, Alycia Bennett, Amala Groom, Angus Scott, Baby Guerrilla, Chantelle Mitchell and Jaxon Waterhouse, Dani Reynolds, Eden Menta and Janelle Low, Edwina Green, Elyas Alavi, Isabella Hone-Saunders, Jack Lee, Kathy Holowko, Katie Stackhouse, Linda Studena, megan evans, Ming Liew, Mira Oosterweghel, Miream Salameh, Moreen Wellington Lyons, Nicholas Hubicki, Nina Sanadze, Olivia Koh, Patrick McDavitt, Phuong Ngo, Rebecca Jensen, Scotty So, and Xanthe Dobbie. Image courtesy Incinerator Gallery