The Tauranga Art Gallery is calling on Bay artists to share their amazing works and enter the 2016 Miles Art Awards, prize and exhibition.

Established in 2010, the biennial event is an opportunity for Bay of Plenty artists who live in the region to submit their most accomplished artworks for Tauranga's premiere art award.

The 2014 Miles Art Award Supreme Award winning entry ‘Tipping Point' by Lea-Anne Sheather. Image: Lea-Anne Sheather/TAG

The awards are open solely to artists that are 18 years and over, and live in the Bay of Plenty which includes the Tauranga, Western Bay, Rotorua, Kawarau, Whakatane and Opotiki Districts.

'Local artists are invited to submit a one-off, original artwork that they have created in the past 24 months,” explains a gallery spokesperson.

'In previous years, Tauranga Art Gallery received up to 100 entries and the expectations are that there will be even more this year. The judge this year is artist, curator and writer Ane Tonga.”

The finalists work will be shown in a curated exhibition which will be displayed at the gallery from August 13 to October 16.

The Miles Art Awards is supported by The Venetta Miles Trust including through a Supreme Award of $5000.

Venetta Miles is considered one of the gallery's ‘founding mothers' and is remembered for her considerable foresight and generosity, the gallery says.

For more information and to download an entry form visit the Tauranga Art Gallery's website at: www.artgallery.org.nz

Venetta Miles, ‘Painting Class', Tauranga (1965). Image: TAG