Entries are now open for the 2026 Banyule Award for Works on Paper, a prestigious national acquisitive art prize presented by Banyule City Council.
Awarded biennially, the prize celebrates outstanding contemporary works on paper and offers artists the opportunity to exhibit alongside original Heidelberg School paintings on long-term loan from the National Gallery of Australia.
Prize
- $10,000 Acquisitive Prize
- Winning artwork acquired into the Banyule Art Collection.
In previous years, Banyule Council has also acquired additional finalist artworks, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to supporting Australian artists.
2026 Theme
The Heidelberg School
Artists are invited to create works that critique, respond to, reinterpret or draw inspiration from the Heidelberg School movement, exploring themes including:
- Australian landscape
- Colonial history
- Cultural heritage
- Place and identity
- Contemporary perspectives on the Australian environment
Selected finalists will exhibit their work alongside significant Heidelberg School paintings as part of the exhibition.
