Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards stand as one of Queensland’s most prestigious and enduring regional art events. Established in 1976 to honour local patron and MLA Martin Hanson (1923–1976), the awards continue to recognise and support artistic excellence from across the state and beyond.
Presented by the Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum (GRAGM), the 2025 Awards will feature multiple categories across painting, sculpture, works on paper, and digital media. All entries are eligible for the QAL People’s Choice Award, with a total prize pool supported by Rio Tinto Yarwun and Queensland Alumina Limited.
The 2025 judge, Dr Simon Degroot — Program Director of Visual Arts at the Queensland College of Art & Design, Griffith University — brings a wealth of experience as both a practicing artist and academic. Degroot’s work explores abstraction and architectural form, and is represented in major public collections including Artbank and the Lyon Housemuseum.
The 2025 Awards mark five decades of celebrating creativity, community, and the vibrant cultural identity of regional Queensland.
Key Dates
• Submissions: 14–18 October 2025
• Installation: 20 October – 7 November 2025
• Exhibition Opening: 10am, Saturday 8 November 2025
• Judge’s Floor Talk & Lecture: 10:30am, Saturday 8 November 2025
• Official Opening & Awards Presentation: 6pm, Saturday 8 November 2025
• QAL People’s Choice Voting: From 8 November 2025
• Exhibition Closes: 2pm, Saturday 7 February 2026
• Collection of Works: 9–14 February 2026
