Melbourne is so unforgettable: over 360 businesses support Australia’s largest  national art prize in history.

Australia’s richest national art prize ,The Signature of M, aims to capture the quintessential personality and essence of the city and that also includes its commercial hub.

The brainchild of the art collector Benjamin Jung, the prize is largely funded by businesses that have each contributed  $2000 and in return will have their name worked into the piece as part of the Melbourne story.

Many big corporations such as Jet Star, NAB, and AFL are part of it. There are also many smaller businesses that felt they wanted to become part of their new city picture, such as Flowers Vassette, Rickett Point Fine Foods, Fine Cabinetry  and many more.

The 30 semi-finalists’ artworks are very diverse, quirky and hit the nail right on the head: a collection of Metro tickets representing the divers culture, languages, styles and personal stories;  two abstract golden bees flying through the city; a painted bookshelf with names of entities, famous Melbournians' names as titles; mixed media collages of hundreds of images made into one story and abstract city maps made out of circles. All in all unique.

In the last week of August, the 30 semi finalists were chosen from 184 works. The works went on a VIP exhibition on 4th September where the public voted their favourites. The 12 finalists were notified and asked to produce a full artwork.

The winner will be chosen by an imminent judging board including Frances Lindsay (Deputy Director National Galleries Victoria), Alexi Glass (Director, Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces), Red Symons, Eddie McGuire and the Premier’s Office.

Jung arrived from Germany 5 years ago and liked Australia so much that he made it his home. Jung developed and directed the Pilot project in Sydney two years ago and decided to travel to another 11 World Cities to repeat the Signature project. His aim is to one day exhibit 12 City Signatures in one room and have the public ‘travel around the World without moving a foot’.

But projects like these are expensive. “It is not just a matter of calling a few businesses or the Arts Council to support us. We put whole teams in place that work for over 14 months to raise the funds. And art can be a difficult selling point as it falls out of what people know and understand very often.”

Many participating businesses have embraced the idea and support the project far beyond than what was hoped for. But as Jung says, he tried to make sure that only businesses sign up that truly have an interest for the city and art and not merely want to use their participation as a business tool to receive life long free advertising. “People love to come on board because $2000 is nothing from a marketing perspective. But we tried to find out whether they are passionate about the arts and about Melbourne. We did not want it to be a brand exercise.”

Jung also explained that the idea is not new. In 1888 an unnamed artist created a Signature picture for Sydney’s 100th anniversary featuring many of the names of businesses that influenced the city at that time.  Hundreds of prints were given away and til this date 6 prints have been discovered hanging throughout the city of Sydney.

The pilot project in Sydney saw very different artists enter. What was missing in Sydney, Melbourne has proven to be able to shine with: Contemporary art.  Jung says that there are some internationally renowned Australian artists that many will recognize instantly but there are also many emerging artists who really have come up with a powerful piece of work.  Jung thinks that Melbourne attracts a more diverse and contemporary art scene from throughout the country.

“There are many pieces that are very high calibre. But this is all quite subjective as art is a visual feeling and tastes vary. This isn’t a beauty or pop contest and we have selected a good panel of judges that have an appreciation of art, but nevertheless, everyone brings their own sensibilities to it when they vote.”

The winning artist will receive $150,000 and will be announced at a Gala function on 19th November. The final 12 artworks will be auctioned with the proceeds going to the Ladder Foundation, an initiative by the Players’ Association and the AFL Foundation. All the businesses that support the competition will receive a large limited edition print of the winning piece. Hundreds of prints will go up throughout the city and create a lasting artistic emblem for Melbourne that hopefully will stay for a 100 years.

For more information and to see the 30 semi-finalists visit www.signatureofm.com.au