The bursary of $1500 is awarded to help a local artist from the New England region attend a special professional or creative development activity to improve their skills, learn new techniques, or broaden their artistic horizons.

Rita Winiger will use the $1,500 grant to attend the Larapinta Creative Camp, Alice Springs.

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There, she will have access to beautiful and remote desert landscapes, creative exercises, and technical skills training.

“My paintings are my personal response to the environment,” Ms Winiger said.

“Being exposed to a different landscape, and connecting with new places and surroundings are important for my art, and will stimulate my creativity.”

The announcement was made at the opening of two new exhibitions at NERAM on Friday – one of which was Ms Winiger’s own first solo exhibition, a display of her landscape paintings entitled My Terrain.

NERAM director Rachael Parsons said: “This year we received many worthy and exciting applications to the bursary.”

Born in Switzerland, Rita Winiger completed a Master of Studio Art in ceramic sculpture from the Sydney College of the Arts in 2005.

​Ms Winiger is a student in Ross Laurie’s advanced painting class held at NERAM, and regularly exhibits with the Armidale Art Society.

“I feel absolutely delighted to receive this year’s bursary,” she said.

“The opportunity means a lot to me, and I hope that I will produce some good work as a result of my attendance at the creative camp. The bursary is a great opportunity; it really inspires and encourages artists.”

The award is named after Helen Dangar (1944-2015), an accomplished academic at the University of New England, who taught French at the New England Girls’ School for twenty years.

She was very passionate about art, music, and literature, and took a great interest in the artistic wellbeing of the Armidale community.

The Helen Dangar Memorial Arts Bursary celebrates her contribution, and creates a lasting memorial to a much-missed person who gave so much energy and vitality to NERAM and the cultural life of Armidale and the wider region.

NERAM thank Bill Dangar, the Dangar family, Friends of NERAM, Packsaddle, and the many donors and supporters who have helped establish and build hte Bursary Fund.

NERAM will be calling for applications for the bursary from artists across the entire New England region in August 2019.

For further information on how you could help support the Helen Dangar Memorial Art Bursary, visit http://www.neram.com.au/support/foundation/helen-dangar-bursary/