The Surf Coast community has chosen a Torquay artist’s work to feature on the cover of next year’s Surf Coast Community Arts Calendar.
Emily Wright’s lino print work, ‘Surf Coast Community’, won the People’s Choice Award following a community voting period of the 2025 Arts Calendar Exhibition at Anglesea Art Space.
Ms Wright said the winning artwork highlighted the community’s shared respect for the environment and that she was “blown away as an artist on how accepted” she felt.
“It felt very special that it was chosen by the community because this piece was all about them and it was inspired by the community we have here,” she said.
“To have them choose it felt really special and made me feel supported by the community I’m working within and love being a part of. It was a nice feeling.
“Moving to Torquay, I just fell in love with everything about it, like the nature, people and lifestyle. I got here and just have never been happier.
“I took inspiration from what I loved about the community, like the people, nature, surfing, working together, and feeling inclusive, and tried to articulate that into a piece of artwork that could be shared.”
Surf Coast Shire Council chief executive Robyn Seymour said winning the People’s Choice Award was a “significant honour” and congratulated Ms Wright on her work.
“Voters clearly connected with the way Emily illustrated elements of our environment, community and lifestyle, making it a very fitting choice for the calendar cover,” she said.
Surf Coast community arts calendars will be available for free at council’s municipal office on Merrijig Drive, visitor information centres, and community houses and hubs from early December.
