Artsfest takes place in the lovely North Coast NSW town of Grafton for a week of intensive visual arts tuition in autumn and spring each year.

Keith Norris was a long standing tutor and supporter of Artsfest who sadly passed away in August 2009. In his honour, Artsfest and Chroma have established a memorial prize for accommodation and tuition at the festival worth $1500. The inaugural Chroma Keith Norris Scholarship at this year’s spring event in September has been won by Cassie Pagett from Mallangee, NSW with Tarnie Fischer of Victoria Point, Queensland awarded second place.

Keith Norris was an outstanding artist and remarkable man; extremely generous with sharing his skills and knowledge as well as a loveable and memorable character. He was a favourite tutor at Artsfest and also with Chroma. Top Australian artists and students coming from all over NSW and Queensland gather to learn, enjoy and talk visual arts. The festival organizers also put together a terrific program of entertainment by experienced jazz musicians for town residents and participants to revel in the fun and promise of a fresh new season.

Cassie Pagett is a young mother living in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. After 10 years in the workforce she has turned her energies towards her love of art whilst raising her son. While stating that she has much to learn she applied for and won the scholarship with 4 very well considered and drafted pieces. They each reflect very different genre and compositions, a positive sign for a new artist in their ability to open themselves to new skills and experimentation.

This year the scholarship amount has allowed a second prize to be awarded to Tarnie Fischer. Tarnie has been passionate about the visual arts since childhood, studying visual arts at college after leaving school. In 1999 she completed a Diploma of Graphic Design at the Southbank Institute of TAFE. Tarnie works in pastel on paper with rural and coastal imagery reflecting the natural environment of her childhood and young adult life, being her inspiration. In 2009 she joined the Pastel Society of Australia and was awarded a Certificate of Commendation at the Pastel Society’s Annual Awards (2009). Her work was also published in the ‘Australian Artist’ magazine (2010). .

Both women are extremely excited and thankful for the opportunity that awaits them. Cassie will be developing her skills in artist Pamela Griffith’s acrylic painting workshop and Tarnie will be continuing her engagement with a week’s tuition in pastels. Examples of the winning entries are shown below. The results of 5 day’s creativity culminate in an exhibition on Wednesday 29th September in Grafton.

Both women are extremely excited and thankful for the opportunity that awaits them. Cassie will be developing her skills in artist Pamela Griffith’s acrylic painting workshop and Tarnie will be continuing her engagement in pastels with the week’s tuition . Examples of the winning entries are shown below. The results of 5 day’s of creativity culminates in an exhibition on Wednesday 29th September in Grafton.