Awards


Artist Opportunities

ACT Historic Places Art Prize
Entries close 5pm, Monday May 5, 2023
Artists from across the greater Canberra region are invited to participate in the inaugural ACT Historic Places Art Prize, which supports local artists while encouraging a deeper appreciation of the region’s cultural and natural heritage through artistic engagement with Lanyon Homestead, Tharwa ACT 2620. The prize pool of over $20,000 includes cash prizes, a Craft and Design Artist prize and exhibition opportunities with Craft ACT, Canberra ACT 2601, and Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Greenway ACT 2901. The ACT Historic Places Art Prize is a regional, non-acquisitive competition and exhibition open to works in any medium. An exhibition of the finalists’ works will be held at Lanyon Homestead from July to October, 2023. More details online; historicplaces.com.

 

Andor Meszaros Sculpture Prize
Entries close Monday May 15, 2023
Call for entries from emerging sculptors with fewer than ten years experience. Visit website for information and entry form. An exhibition of finalists’ works will be held at the VAS Gallery, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, from June 15 to July 3, 2023; www.sculptorsvictoria.asn.au.

 

Calleen Art Award
Entries close Friday July 21, 2023
(02) 6340-2190.
The Calleen Art Award is a $25,000 acquisitive prize for painting. Entries are invited for works created in any style and subject. The exhibition of finalists will be held at Cowra Regional Art Gallery, Cowra NSW 2794, from October 8 to November 19, 2023. Enter online or contact the gallery for an entry form; cowraartgallery.com.au.

 

Castaways Sculpture Awards
Entries close Sunday May 28, 2023
The Castaways Sculpture Awards celebrates artistic innovation and environmental awareness. Castaways invites West Australian artists of all levels, both emerging and professional alike, to showcase their innovation and creativity by creating sculptures made from recycled and repurposed materials. Castaways Sculpture Awards consists of three exhibitions at Rockingham Foreshore and Rockingham Arts Centre, Rockingham WA 6168, from October 21 to 29, 2023, with a prize pool of $26,000 (non-acquisitive) across seven award categories; rockingham.wa.gov.au.

 

Contemporary Wearables 2023
Biennial Jewellery Award & Exhibition
Entries close Friday May 19, 2023
The Contemporary Wearables Biennial Jewellery Award and Exhibition is the focus of Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery’s contribution to promoting excellence in contemporary adornment. The Award was established in 1989, with the aid of the Toowoomba Gallery Society Inc., and is a forum for experimental and innovative contemporary jewellery and object practice. Juried and judged by leading industry professionals, the Award showcases the work of Australia’s prominent and emerging contemporary makers. In addition, exhibited pieces are eligible for acquisition for the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery – Toowoomba City Collection. Offering up to $15,000 available for acquisitions, this year’s awards include Award winner $6,000, Runner-up $3,500, and Student award $1,500. An exhibition of finalists’ works will be held at Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, Toowoomba QLD 4350, from 26 August to 19 November 2023. Visit the website for more information on entry requirements, submission and awards; tr.qld.gov.au/trag.

 

Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award 2023
Entries open close midnight, Friday June 23, 2023
This annual acquisitive award and exhibition for small sculpture is organised by the Art Collection and Galleries Unit at Deakin University in Victoria. One outstanding work will be awarded $10,000 and become part of the Deakin University Art Collection. Follow our social media or email for more information and to register; smallsculpture@deakin.edu.au, deakin.edu.au/art-collection.

 

Du Rietz Art Awards
Entries close 4pm, Wednesday May 24, 2023
Entries are open for the Du Rietz Art Awards 2023. There are over $13,000 in prizes on offer. The exhibition of finalists’ works will be on view at Gympie Regional Gallery, Gympie QLD 4570, from July 21 to August 25, 2023. Visit the website for conditions and entry; gympie.qld.gov.au/DRAA.

 

2023 Experimental Print Prize
Entries close Sunday July 23, 2023
The biennial, non-acquisitive Experimental Print Prize is open to artists residing in Victoria using innovative approaches to traditional printmaking processes such as intaglio, relief, planographic, digital processes and photography (if included within the printmaking process). Experimentation may include challenging and redefining concepts of printmaking; crossing traditional boundaries between media; pushing the limits of medium and process; engaging with new tools, techniques, and materials; and artist books and three-dimensional work will be accepted. Established through to early-career artists are encouraged to apply. Three prizes are offered: $10,000 (First Prize), $5,000 (Highly Commended), and $3,000 (Emerging Artist Award). The exhibition of shortlisted artists will be held at Castlemaine Art Museum, Castlemaine VIC 3450, from September 15 to January 28, 2024. Please read the Terms & Conditions before entering online; castlemaineartmuseum.org.au.

 

FAC Open Exhibition 2023
Applications close 2pm, Sunday July 15, 2203
The FAC Open Exhibition is a call out for submissions by Victorian artists across all visual art mediums to explore the theme of ‘Renewal’. The theme is open to broad artistic interpretation and may be approached from a personal, social or cultural perspective. Win $1,000 plus a FAC Exhibition and Opening Event opportunity in 2024. Entry $16. Apply online at thefac.com.au or through FAC Box Office (03) 9784-1060.

 

Girra: Fraser Coast National Art Prize
Entries close Wednesday June 21, 2023
Drawing its name from the Butchulla word for sand, the new biennial Girra: Fraser Coast National Art Prize will showcase artworks that demonstrate a conceptual engagement with the intersection of people, place and the environment, offering insight into our reciprocal and inextricable relationship with the environment, and told through diverse perspectives and aesthetic approaches. Girra: Fraser Coast National Art Prize invites entries from contemporary artists working in any visual art form, including but not limited to painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, installation, performance, and video, offering a $25,000 Major Acquisitive Prize and a $2,000 People’s Choice Award. An exhibition of finalists’ works will be held at Hervey Bay Regional Gallery, Hervey Bay QLD 4655, from September 23 to November 12, 2023. More information online; hbrg.ourfrasercoast.com.au/fraser-coast-national-art-prize-1.

 

2024 Grace Cossington Smith Art Award
Entries close midnight, September 2, 2023
The Grace Cossington Smith Gallery and Abbotsleigh invite submissions from Australian artists for the Grace Cossington Smith biennial art award for work in any two-dimensional media in response to the theme ‘Making Connections’. The award theme is inspired by the work of Abbotsleigh Old Girl and artist Grace Cossington Smith who made connections with her changing world through her drawing and painting. Award categories include $15,000 awarded to the winner (acquisitive), $2,500 awarded to an early-career artist, and $2,500 awarded to a local artist from Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai area. An exhibition of finalists’ works will be held at the Grace Cossington Smith Gallery, Wahroonga NSW 2076, from January 27 to February 24, 2024. Read the Conditions of Entry online; gcsgallery.com.au/gcs-art-award.

 

Hawkesbury Art Prize 2023
Entries close 5pm, Friday July 21, 2023
Artists are invited to enter the non-acquisitive Hawkesbury Art Prize with a painting that responds to the concept of contemporary identity in Australian life. Accordingly, the theme often helps artists explain the rapidly changing environment in which they live, or, conversely, promotes diverse portrayals of history, landscape, and ways of seeing. First prize includes $10,000 plus a two-week residency at Glenhuntly Estate, Kurrajong Heights NSW 2758. Exhibition of finalists’ works at Purple Noon Art Gallery, Freemans Reach NSW 2756, from September 2 to 18, 2023. Visit the website for details and entry form; hawkesburyartprize.com.au.

 

Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award 2023
Submissions close Friday June 30, 2023
Entries are open for the Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award. A total of $26,000 in prizes will be awarded across four categories. Finalists will be exhibited at Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Gymea NSW 2227, from September 16 to November 12, 2023. Visit the website for more information; www.hazelhurst.com.au.

 

Kate Challis RAKA Award
Applications close Monday June 26, 2023
The Kate Challis RAKA Award supports Indigenous creative artists. The Award follows a five-year cycle with a different area of the arts supported each year – creative prose, drama, the visual arts, plays and poetry. In 2023, the Kate Challis RAKA Award, with a total value of $20,000, supports a visual artist who has held an exhibition in the last five years; artsawards-info@unimelb.edu.au,  scholarships.unimelb.edu.au/awards/kate-challis-award.

 

The Lester Prize
Entries close 5pm (AWST), Sunday July 9, 2023
Entries are open for Western Australia’s premier portrait prize – The Lester Prize, which offers a prize pool of over $110,000 over seven categories, including The Richard Lester Prize for Portraiture, valued at $50,000. Go online for Terms and Conditions, and to enter; lesterprize.com.

 

Lethbridge 20,000 Small Scale Art Award
Entries close Friday May 5, 2023
With a first prize of $20 000, the Lethbridge Art Award is open to national and international artists for small-scale artworks. Entrants may submit 2D or 3D artworks up to 61cm in height, width or depth. Exhibition of finalists’ works at Lethbridge Gallery, Paddington QLD 4064, from June 17 to 23, 2023; lethbridgegallery.com.

 

Maldon Landscape Prize – Essence of Place
Entries close Friday September 8, 2023
The inaugural Maldon Landscape Prize 2023 – ‘Essence of Place’ is presented by Maldon Artist Network and Edge Galleries with a non-acquisitive First Prize of $10,000 and a People’s Choice Award of $1,000. An exhibition of finalists’ works will be held at Edge Galleries, Maldon VIC 3463, from October 29 to November 11, 2023. In addition, all artists’ entries will be exhibited online from November 19 to February 14, 2024. An online award of $1,000 will also be awarded; maldonartistnetwork.org.au.

 

Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize
Entries close Friday May 19, 2023
The Australian Photographic Society’s Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize is a national $25,000 acquisitive prize that invites photographers to illustrate the intent of their works through a myriad of mediums. An exhibition of finalists’ works will be held at Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre, Muswellbrook NSW 2333, from July 3 to August 26, 2023; artgallery.muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au/prizes.

 

Naked & Nude Art Prize
Entries close Friday June 23, 2023
The biennial Naked & Nude Art Prize is open to Australian artists working in a variety of media. For 2023, the Major Prize is $35,000, and the Val Good People’s Choice Prize is $2,000. Visit the website for details and entry. Enquiries: nn@friendsmanningvalley.com.au. Exhibition of finalists’ works at Manning Regional Art Gallery, Taree NSW 2430, from September 2 to October 15, 2023; friendsmanningvalley.com.au.

 

National Capital Art Prize
Entries close 7pm (AEST), Friday, June 30, 2023
The National Capital Art Prize invites artists around Australia to participate in its annual national art competition with $45,000 prize money up for grabs across three categories: Open Prize, valued at $15,000; First Nations Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, valued at $15,000; Sustainability Prize, valued at $15,000. There is also the People’s Choice Award, valued at $2,500, open to all finalists. The Open and First Nations entries must be a painting of any subject that can be framed and hung on the wall. Sustainability entries are open to all mediums, including sculpture and photography. The Sustainability Prize category is based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is a plan of action for people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnerships. An exhibition of finalists’ works will be held at Fitters’ Workshop, Kingston ACT 2604, from September 11. Further details are available online; nationalcapitalartprize.com.au.

 

Northern Beaches Environmental Art and Design Prize
Entries close 12pm (AEST), Sunday May 14, 2023
The 2023 Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize invites submissions from artists and designers across the country who are agents of change, responding to the climate crisis through work in contemporary art and design. The $40,000+ prize pool will be shared across the following categories: Ceramics & small sculpture (in any medium, including glass and waste to art); Functional design (for example, architecture, urban design, object/product prototype, furniture); Wearable design (fashion & textiles); Film (for example, film, video story and animation); Interdisciplinary collaboration (for example, art and science; design and engineering); Painting & mixed media; Works on paper & photography (including drawing, printmaking & digital works mounted on any media); Young artists and designers 7–12 years and 13–18 years; as well as the People’s Choice Awards. An exhibition of finalists’ works will be held at Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Manly NSW 2095, from August 4 to 27, 2023. Visit the website for Terms & Conditions and to enter; northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/arts-and-culture.

 

Paddington Art Prize
Entries close Sunday August 27, 2023
The Paddington Art Prize is a $30,000 national acquisitive prize for a painting inspired by the Australian landscape, to be awarded by Marlene Antico OAM. Plus, a further six non-acquisitive prizes. National finalists will be announced Wed Sept 13, with an exhibition of finalists’ works to be held at Cooee Art Gallery, Redfern NSW 2016, from Oct 12 to 22. Winners announced Thurs Oct 12, 2023; info@paddingtonartprize.com.au, www.paddingtonartprize.com.au.

 

Page Turner Awards
Submissions close Thursday June 1, 2023
The Page Turner Awards celebrate outstanding writing from authors, writers, and screenwriters by offering these creatives a chance to enter the first ten pages of their writing project, where a judging panel of literary experts and film producers will read the work. New sub-categories for Page Turner Awards 2023 include Best True Story and Best Animated Story. These go alongside other sub-categories, such as Best Golden Writer (over 60s), Best Illustrated Book, and Best Genre. Page Turner Awards has awards for all writers, including a Book Award (for published books), a Writing Award (for unpublished, completed manuscripts), a Writing Mentorship Award (for unpublished, uncompleted manuscripts), a Young Writer Award (18–25 years) and a Screenplay Award (for film and TV screenplays, as well as authors who want to win a book adaptation to film script). Page Turner Awards particularly seeks submissions of cultural and diversity stories from different communities. Find out how you can enter your writing online; pageturnerawards.com.

 

STILL: National Still Life Award
Entries close Sunday June 4, 2023
The STILL: National Still Life Award is a biennial, acquisitive award for still life artworks across all mediums, with a prize pool of $35,000. STILL 2023 will be the first National Still Life Award presented at Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM), Coffs Harbour NSW 2450, from October 7 to December 3, 2023. Details and entry form online; coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/still.

 

Sunshine Coast Art Prize
Submissions close 11.59pm (AEST), Sunday May 14, 2023
The Sunshine Coast Art Prize 2023 is open to Australian contemporary artists working in any 2D medium, including new media, offering a total prize pool of more than $40,000. There are four prize categories: an acquisitive major prize of $25,000 cash; a non-acquisitive Highly Commended prize of $5,000; a non-acquisitive People’s Choice prize of $2,500; and a Sunshine Coast Art Prize Residency. The 2023 Sunshine Coast Art Prize winning work will join those by previous winners such as Tony Albert, Peter Hudson, Raquel Ormella, Michael Cook, Diena Georgetti and Natalya Hughes in the Sunshine Coast Art Collection. An exhibition of finalists’ works will be on view at Caloundra Regional Gallery, Caloundra QLD 4551, from August 18 to October 15, 2023. Go online for more details, including Terms & Conditions of entry; gallery.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au.

 

THFG – Creative Health Art Prize
Entries close 5pm (ACST), Monday May 29, 2023
The positive impact of the arts to improve physical, psychological, and spiritual health is well recognised across the world. The Hospital Research Foundation (THRF) Group – Creative Health Art Prize recognises and promotes the important role of art in health and wellbeing. The Prize is open to South Australian-based artists over the age of 18 exclusively, for two- and three-dimensional works responding to themes of ‘Healing’ as it relates to human physical and mental health and wellbeing. The non-acquisitive THRF Group – Creative Health Art Prize is open in three categories: Main Prize category, $40,000; Emerging Artist category, $5,000; Veterans and Emergency First Responders, $5,000; and People’s Choice Prize, $1,000. An exhibition of finalists’ work will be held at Light Square Gallery, Adelaide SA 5000, from August 28 to September 22, 2023. Enter online; creativehealth.org.au/whats-on/art-prize.

 

Urunga Small Sculpture Prize
Entries close 6pm, Saturday August 12, 2023
Entries are invited for the Urunga Small Sculpture Prize, a regional award for small sculpture offering $7,000 in prizes. Presented by Urunga Myelstom Chamber of Commerce and Urunga Art Space. An exhibition of finalists’ works will be held at Urunga Art Space, Urunga NSW 2455, from September 16 to October 15, 2023; urungasmallsculptureprize.com.au.

 

WAMA Art Prize, Works on Paper
Entries close 5pm, Friday May 19, 2023
The biennial WAMA Art Prize, Works on Paper celebrates connection with nature and raises awareness of the importance of conserving our precious, unique Australian environment in a showcase of wildlife and nature-inspired art created on or with paper. Prize categories include: The Major Acquisitive Prize, $15,000; Awards of Excellence, $2,500 each (non-acquisitive); People’s Choice Award, $2,500 (non-acquisitive). An exhibition of finalists’ works will be held at Ararat Gallery, TAMA, Ararat VIC 3377, from August 19 to November 19, 2023; wama.net.au/wama-art-prize.

 

2023 Waterbrook Drawing Prize
Entries close 4pm, Wednesday May 31, 2023
(02) 4861-4093.
The Bowral & District Art Society (BDAS) invites entries of up to two works per artist of original works not previously displayed with BDAS. First Prize $3,000; People’s Choice $500. An exhibition of finalists’ works will be held at Bowral Art Gallery, Bowral NSW 2576, from June 17 to July 2, 2023. Visit the website for details and entry form; www.bdasgallery.com/entryforms.

 

Yarra Valley Arts | Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition & Awards
Entries close Monday July 3, 2023
Expressions of Interest are open for the Yarra Valley Arts | Yering Station Sculpture Exhibition & Awards 2023. Prizes include the Yering Station Sculpture Award $12,000, Arnold Bloch Leibler Award $5,000, RACV Award $1,000, and the Yering Station Art Gallery Award and Winery Choice Award. Exhibition of finalists’ works at Yering Station, Yarra Glen VIC 3775, from October 22 to December 3, 2023; yering.com/visit-us/art-gallery.

 


Categories