About
The Doyles
The Doyles began as a small community based art show, in the hinterland region of the Gold Coast, Queensland.
In 2001 the Mudgeeraba Community Association (MCA) organised a fun day for the community at the Mudgeeraba Showgrounds. It was called the Mudgeeraba Mad Pumpkin Party. Over 3,500 people attended the day. In conjunction with this event, local identity, Earle Hinschen organised a Pumpkin Cookbook titled “The Plentiful Pumpkin” and the publication was noticed by the media leading to the Channel 9 television station producing a cooking program based on the book. In 2002 several artists approached Earle to do something for them in the area. As a result, Earle met with the d’Arcy Doyle family and the d’Arcy Doyle Art Awards was established in d'Arcy's name.
It grew into The Doyles Art Award
And so ‘The Doyles’, as it is colloquially known, was established in 2004 with the original prize money of $3,000.
The Awards have gone from strength to strength throughout the years with the help of our sponsors, benefactors and community. Winners have found it to be a valuable stepping stone in their careers with several artists being represented in galleries as a result of their exposure through The Doyles.
As a not for profit organisation, and nearly entirely volunteer driven, The Doyles Art Award has established itself as a nationally recognised art award boasting a significant prize pool of over $30,000. The finalist exhibition with over 300 original artwork on display, is eagerly anticipated annually in a 9 day exhibition in Mudgeeraba Queensland.
What we deliver
With a prize pool split amongst several categories including landscape, figurative, still life and juniors, The Doyles is seen as a nationally significant Australian art award in the highly competitive art prize calendar. The primary prize money is acquisitive and awarded to the first place winner in the Landscape category, in keeping with the favoured subject of its namesake, d'Arcy Doyle, to perpetuate his memory and to encourage others in the creation of quintessentially Australian Art.
Arts and culture form a large part of the backbone of our society and we pride ourselves in guarding and growing this historically significant event for future generations.
