More Information

• About Religious Art

  Artistic ability is a gift from God that needs to be nurtured and expressed. Art has an innate ability to reveal goodness, truth, and beauty. The fullness of all goodness, truth, and beauty is found in God. Art has always played an important role in the Catholic faith. Art was often used to depict and explain religious events and concepts to people as well as to provide a focal point for prayer and spirituality. Today religious art seeks to express something about God, about people, and about faith. 

• About St Catherine of Bologna

  St Catherine of Bologna is the patron saint of artists. She lived in Bologna Italy in the 15th Century. St Catherine grew up in an aristocratic family and was well educated, excelling at painting and music. AS a teenager St Catherine felt the call to enter religious life. Throughout her life St Catherine remained humble, fulfilling many roles, and eventually founding monasteries and becoming prioress. St Catherine would often paint and write and her paintings and writings can still be found today. St Catherine is celebrated by the Catholic Church on the 9th of March.

• Theme

  There is no set theme for the competition. All entries should be religious art and should be an catalyst for prayer and reflection. Artworks should also be appropriate for youth ministry. Artists may like to choose a theme for the list below if they get stuck:

  • Year of Saint Joseph (Declared by Pope Francis for 2021.) 
  • “Stand up. I appoint you as a witness of what you have seen.” – Acts 26:16 – Theme for World Youth Day 2021.
  • St Catherine of Bologna (Patron of the competition.)
  • “Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor” – The Bishops’ Social Justice Statement 2021-22.
• Competition Info
  • The St Catherine Religious Art Competition is now open! This competition is open to young people living in the Diocese of Bunbury.  
  • Competition closes on the 1st of December 2021 with winners announced on the 20th of December 2021. 
  • The entry fee is $10 and each entry must be accompanied by a completed entry form. 
  • Entries must be delivered to the Bunbury Diocesan Office (11 Money Street, Bunbury) during business hours (9am to 5pm) or can be posted to PO Box 2005, Bunbury, 6321. 
  • Entries must be received before 5pm on the 1st of December 2021 to be eligible for judging. 
  • Artists are invited to enter either division one or division two according to their age groups. Division 1: Ages 16 – 25 years old. Division 2: Ages 12 – 16 years old. 
  • The total prize pool for the competition is valued at $900. 
  • The winning artworks and the respective prizes for both divisions are acquisitional, meaning the first prize winning artworks will become the property of DYMO (artists are welcomed to make copies of their artwork before submission.) 
  • Other entries can elect to pick up their artworks after the competition has ended or donate their artwork to the Diocesan Youth Ministry Office. All entrants will receive a certificate of participation. 
  • More details can be found in the full terms and conditions of the competition before entering.
• Format Rules for Artwork

  Entries must comply with the following format rules. Entries must:

  • Be either a painting or drawing. 
  • Be no larger than 80cm (h) x 80cm (w) and no smaller than 60cm (h) x 60cm (w),  excluding framing. Multi-panel works are regarded as one work and must fit within the maximum dimensions and include any specific installation instructions.
  • Have been created in the last 2 years (January 2019 onwards.) 
  • Be submitted as finished works stable enough to ensure transport and installation.
  • Have D-rings attached to the reverse of the work and ready for hanging.
  • Artworks must clearly bear the title of the work and name, address and telephone number of the entrant on the reverse of the work.
  • Not have been previously selected as a finalist in a prize or exhibited at a major public institution.
• Divisions and Prizes

  Division One – 16 – 25 Years old

  1st Prize – $300

  2nd Prize – $200

  3rd Prize – $100

  Division Two – 12 – 16 Years old

  1st Prize – $150

  2nd Prize – $100

  3rd Prize – $50

• Exhibitions

  Artworks will be exhibited throughout the Diocese of Bunbury. DYMO will notify all entrants of any public exhibitions of their artwork.