About

What is KernART?

The KernART Prize celebrates the role of art in bringing community together! We invite artists of all ages and all abilities to be part of our growing community. Art is a fundamental part of our wellbeing; both enjoying art and creating art foster resilience and strength. As a group of local artists and art enthusiasts, the KernART prize celebrates all art forms and mediums.

In the last couple of years, we saw the impact of bushfires, drought, floods and COVID-19. We witnessed schools pause, businesses pivot and people learning to connect in different ways. Through the challenge, we have seen that our connections, to each other, to our creativity, to our land, have been our strength.

The KernART Prize went online last year. We invited artists in our community, and beyond, to share their work, sell their work, and join us for an opening online event. Established artists, emerging artists, unknowing artists...we invited them all to share their creations and now we are back in person in 2022 and are so looking forward to sharing art and connection with the community.

Kernot is a small town in the Bass Coast, set among rolling hills and spectacular hinterland scenery. Kernot is a community with a big art heart centred around the 'Kernot Food and Wine Store'. If coming from Melbourne, the short 70 minute drive is well worth the trip.

Money raised by the prize goes towards the Bass Coast Health mental health program- supporting families where a parent has a mental illness. Donations have supported sport and cultural activities for children in vulnerable families, supporting families to be further connected with their community through their interests and passions.

KernArt; celebrating art, promoting wellbeing, supporting those impacted by mental illness, building stronger, more connected communities.

Why are we raising funds?

KernART is raising funds for the children of people with Mental Health issues attending Bass Coast Health, making sure that kids don’t miss out on all the opportunities that life can give them.

When mental health problems hit, a whole family is affected, the children of people with mental illness can experience added disadvantage and disconnection from the community.

Bass Coast Health offers counselling, family services and emergency relief. With funds raised by KernART, clinicians will identify those in need and help purchase a range of items or activities to help promote their social connectedness.

This can be as simple as helping them to join a sporting club or purchasing an item that could help them, school supplies, footy boots or something to help their family through a rough patch.

Who we are

It takes many people to make a community event work. KernART is organised by a group of dedicated Kernot locals who value the importance of giving something back to the community. They include, Adam McLeod, Janice Orchard, Rob Parsons, Julie Johnston, Mandy Taylor, Paul Johnston and Emmy van Nimwegen.