As well as being a visual arts teacher, Abigail Sparks is a ceramicist and community artist.

On Friday night, at the New England Regional Art Museum, she was announced as the 2021 recipient of the Helen Dangar Memorial Art Bursary by the director of the museum, Rachael Parsons.

Ms Sparks will receive a $2000 grant towards the cost of attending the Australian Ceramics Triennale, which is a week-long ceramics conference held every three years. The conference will be in Alice Springs and will feature both Australian and International ceramicists.

"The Australian Ceramics Triennale is a dynamic and important event in the ceramics calendar," Ms Sparks said. "It is a place to network, learn, and grow. I have been able to attend previous triennale's and have always found development in my practice and in-turn, knowledge to share with my local community."

The location of the 2022 Triennale in Alice Springs (Mparntwe) was also a bonus she said, with the focus on Indigenous arts and culture being a real drawcard.

"The masterclasses, lectures and workshops offer a condensed opportunity to understand a range of practices," Ms Sparks said.

As well as teaching visual arts at Glen Innes High School, Ms Sparks has exhibited widely within the local community. She is also the President of the Glen Innes Pottery Club and a facilitator for the Northern Tablelands Visual Art Teachers network.

"My practice of educator, ceramicist and community artist are all entwined and inform each other," Ms Sparks said. "My own work is inspired by the research I do developing my teaching. I have been exploring a range of subject matter and materials to facilitate high quality visual art teaching for years 7 to 12 for over 15 years."

Although Ms Sparks does work in drawing, painting, printing and photography, the focus of her work is currently centred around ceramics.

Ms Parsons congratulated Ms Sparks and said it was wonderful to once again see the bursary used to support in the development of a New England artist to extend their practice.

"I look forward to seeing Abigail's response to the Australian Ceramics Triennale and to discuss how it may have sparked new ideas for future artworks," Ms Parsons said.

"I also want to thank Bill Dangar and all of the people who have donated to the Helen Dangar Memorial Bursary Fund, for providing this unique opportunity to support local artists."

The award, now in its fifth year, was established in memory of well-known Armidale arts supporter Helen Dangar (1944-2015) to celebrate her contribution to the region's cultural life and to continue the generosity, passion and support towards the arts that was evident throughout Helen's life.

Each year the bursary supports a local artist from the New England region to participate in a professional or creative development activity that will assist the artist in developing their creative practice and to advance in their career path.

The New England Regional Art Museum will be next calling for applications for the bursary in September 2022.