Well, we hope that all the artists who got good news about their entry into the 2009  Art Awards have now calmed down, and started to plan an early Christmas trip to London! Congratulations to all of you, both those accepted into the exhibition and those awarded a Highly Commended by the judges. It really was a stiff round of judging, and very intense, narrowing down over 2150 entries into an exhibition of only 101 works of art.

If, on the other hand, you were one of the entrants who got a disappointing result, then you have our sympathy. If you have any ideas for the future; how to include more people at all stages of the competition, and how to better celebrate the undoubted talent that flourishes among artists from (this year) 60 to 96 years of age, then we’d love to hear from you.

On another note, a great deal of hard work is going on behind the scenes to bring you the Online Voting by Monday 9th November. We are testing the site to try to keep gremlins at bay, and look forward to inviting you all back online to view the 2009 Finalists Gallery, and cast your votes for your three favourite artworks among the 101 selected for exhibition in December. If all goes well, then the Online Voting should go live tomorrow evening - Monday 9th November. Watch this space!

"King George V Graving Dock" - an entry from one of this years's older artists: Joan Aubry, aged 95.

and "All That Gas", an entry from a youngster at 61, Hannah Kent