The Paddington Art Prize introduces the inaugural Paddo Sculpture Prize, a national, non-acquisitive award offering $10,000 for a 3D free-standing sculpture inspired by the Australian landscape. Open to artists across Australia, the prize invites submissions that respond to landscape through sculptural form—encouraging diverse interpretations across material, scale, and concept. In…

Entries are now open for the 2026 Geelong Contemporary Art Prize, a prestigious acquisitive painting prize presented by Geelong Gallery and supported by the Dimmick Foundation. With a $30,000 acquisitive award, the prize continues Geelong Gallery’s long history of collecting contemporary Australian painting, building on more than eight decades of…

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 Nomad Art Prize is an international award for visual artists that celebrates the relationship between artistic creation and the places that inspire it. Founded on the belief that art is inherently nomadic—crossing borders, cultures, and contexts—the prize seeks to recognise artists whose work embodies themes of movement, displacement, travel,…

Entries are now open for the 2026 Mosman Art Prize, Australia’s premier open painting prize and one of the nation’s longest-running acquisitive art awards. Established in 1947, the Mosman Art Prize celebrates excellence in contemporary Australian painting, supporting artists whose work reflects the ideas, identities and stories of contemporary life.…

Expressions of Interest are now open for the Victorian Pride Centre Gallery 2027 Exhibition Program, inviting proposals from LGBTIQA+ artists, collectives and creative practitioners for exhibitions across the 2027 calendar. The Pride Gallery showcases contemporary visual arts that celebrate the diversity, creativity and lived experiences of LGBTIQA+ communities. Applications are…

Looking to escape the winter chill with a creative evening? Studio Maverik is once again bringing its relaxed Winter Life Drawing Sessions to Side Gallery in Red Hill this July. Set within the intimate surrounds of the gallery, participants will sketch from a live model while surrounded by rotating exhibitions…

Applications are now open for the 12th Dorothy Waxman International Textile Design Prize, recognising emerging talent in textile and fashion design from around the world. Presented as part of the TALKING TEXTILES initiative, the prize celebrates innovative and sustainable approaches to textile design. Current students enrolled in textile, fashion, interior…

Entries are now open for the Bindi Digital Art Prize 2026, a national art prize celebrating digital and moving image practice by artists of all abilities across Australia. Presented by Bindi Enterprises, the non-acquisitive prize encourages artists to explore and celebrate digital media in all its forms, supporting creative and…

Submissions are now open for the 22nd Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe, one of Australia’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibitions, held along the iconic Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Western Australia. The exhibition welcomes senior, mid-career and emerging artists, with sculptures of all types, sizes and materials eligible for submission. Selected artists…

Entries are now open for the Southern Ocean Art Prize 2026, inviting artists from across Australia to submit work in any medium for this non-acquisitive national art prize. The open award celebrates contemporary artistic practice across a wide range of disciplines, including painting, sculpture, works on paper, textiles, digital art…

Entries are now open for the UniSQ Biennial Art Award 2026, a national acquisitive art prize celebrating outstanding contemporary Australian art. Launched in 2024, the biennial award has quickly established itself as an exciting addition to Australia’s arts landscape, attracting artists from across the country. With a total prize pool…

Entries are now open for the Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize 2026, one of the world’s leading international awards celebrating excellence in representational visual arts. Now in its ninth year, the non-acquisitive prize welcomes artists from around the globe working across traditional, digital and photographic media. Eligible styles include realism, imaginative…

This June, artisan presents a diverse program of hands-on creative workshops at the State Library of Queensland, offering participants the opportunity to learn new skills, connect with local makers, and explore contemporary craft practices. From crochet and ceramics to textile repair, jewellery making, sewing, and sculpture, the workshops are designed…

Studio Maverik is bringing a series of relaxed and welcoming life drawing sessions to Brisbane throughout June, offering opportunities for artists of all experience levels to draw from life in unique creative spaces. Join the popular Pop-Up Life Drawing sessions at Side Gallery on 2, 9 and 16 June (6:30pm–8:30pm),…

The Jan van Eyck Academie in Maastricht, Netherlands, is now accepting applications for two international research fellowships focused on sustainable and biobased materials within contemporary art and design practice. Part of the Future Materials programme, the fellowships support environmentally conscious approaches to material research and experimentation, encouraging alternatives to toxic…

Australia’s largest small-scale art award returns for 2026, offering a major acquisitive prize of $20,000 alongside a suite of additional prizes and opportunities for artists at all stages of their careers. Open to both national and international artists, the Lethbridge Small-Scale Art Award celebrates works across 2D and 3D media,…

Arte Laguna Prize, the Venice-based International Contemporary Art Competition, has opened applications for its 21st edition. Open to emerging artists worldwide without age or nationality restrictions, the prize offers exhibition, cash awards and international career development opportunities. A jury of leading international curators and museum directors will select 120 finalists…

Latrobe Art Space is inviting expressions of interest from artists and collectives seeking to exhibit in 2026, with the 2027 calendar to be released soon. The light-filled, flexible venue supports a wide range of contemporary practices — from solo exhibitions and group shows to curatorial projects. Previously known as Percolator…

The Brisbane Portrait Prize returns in 2026, inviting artists with a connection to Brisbane to submit original two-dimensional portraits for one of Queensland’s most significant art awards. Established to celebrate portraiture and storytelling, the prize encourages artists at all stages of their careers to explore contemporary portraiture while connecting audiences…

Khoj International Artists’ Association has announced the open call for its International Residency, taking place from 3 August to 16 September 2026 at Khoj Studios in New Delhi, India. This six-week onsite residency invites artists working across disciplines to explore the intersections of mental health, distress, and the ways pain—physical,…

Spend a relaxed Sunday afternoon drawing from life with Studio Maverik at Side Gallery in Red Hill. This extended 2.5-hour session focuses on a single long pose, giving participants the opportunity to slow down and develop a more considered artwork. Whether you prefer to sketch, paint or sculpt, the session…

Entries are opening soon for the 2026 Pro Hart Outback Art Prize, Broken Hill City Art Gallery’s largest annual exhibition and a major national acquisitive art prize celebrating artistic responses to the Australian outback. Artists from across Australia are invited to submit works that reflect the spirit, beauty and complexity…

The Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize, presented by the Australian Photographic Society, is a national acquisitive award celebrating excellence in conceptual photography across Australia. Open to artists working in any photographic format, the prize encourages diverse and experimental approaches to image-making that explore strong conceptual ideas. Finalists will be exhibited at…

The Narra Bukulla Artist in Residence offers a two-month, self-directed residency set within a coastal bush landscape on Djiringanj Country, Far South Coast NSW. Now in its third year, the residency provides artists with dedicated time, space, and support to engage deeply with their practice. Surrounded by spotted gum forest,…

Between Home & Horizon is an open call exhibition inviting artists to explore the natural world that exists both within and beyond our everyday environments. From backyard gardens and suburban wildlife to expansive rural landscapes and rugged coastlines, this exhibition brings together diverse artistic responses to the ecosystems that surround…

The Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship 2026, administered by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, is now accepting applications from emerging Australian artists aged 20 to 30 with an established body of work. Established in memory of Brett Whiteley, the scholarship supports excellence in painting while providing significant career…

Entries are now open for the Urunga Small Sculpture Prize 2026, a national sculpture award presented by Art Space Urunga. Established in 2018, the prize celebrates original small-scale sculpture and offers $10,000 in prize money. Artists are invited to submit original freestanding or wall-mounted sculptures in any medium. Selected finalists…

Blak Dot Gallery is now accepting proposals for its 2027–2028 exhibition program, inviting artists, collectives, curators, and emerging curators to bring forward bold and ambitious ideas. As an Indigenous-run contemporary art space, Blak Dot is seeking submissions from First Nations, global Indigenous, and PoC practitioners working across all disciplines. Proposals…

Entries are now open for the churchie emerging art prize (‘the churchie’), one of Australia’s longest-running and most respected prizes for emerging contemporary artists, with $55,000 in total prizes on offer. The major non-acquisitive prize of $40,000, supported by BSPN Architecture, provides a significant opportunity for early-career artists to elevate…

MON-ART – The Monasteries of Art – is offering two international residencies exploring how heritage sites can be reactivated through contemporary artistic practice, public engagement, and cultural regeneration. Tihany Abbey (Hungary)A 3–6 month residency focused on responding to monastic life, landscape, and cultural heritage. Artists are encouraged to develop site-responsive…

Narva Art Residency (NART), in collaboration with the Narva City Architecture and Urban Planning Department, is inviting applications for a two-month residency in Narva, Estonia. This opportunity centres on the creation of a new large-scale public installation or sculpture located on the edge of the Pähklimäe district. The selected artist…

Calling all creatives – the Ipswich Art Workshop wants you. Artists, makers, and creative thinkers are invited to submit an Expression of Interest to lead workshops, classes, or creative meetups from August to October 2026. This is an opportunity to share your practice, connect with community, and contribute to Ipswich’s…

Artists living in the Somerset region are invited to submit Expressions of Interest for Year of the Horse, an upcoming exhibition at The Condensery. Across cultures and mythologies, the horse is a powerful symbol of joy, perseverance, and freedom. Within the Somerset region, horses continue to play a significant role…

Prisma Art Prize is an international art competition dedicated to promoting emerging painters and visual artists. Its mission is to showcase the full potential of painting as a medium, embracing both traditional and contemporary techniques. As the name suggests, Prisma Art Prize acts as a prism—refracting the many possibilities within…

Meet by Flying Arts is a new free monthly online gathering designed to connect artists across Queensland and beyond. This relaxed, community-focused session offers a chance to meet new creative peers, reconnect with colleagues, and build meaningful relationships within the arts sector. Hosted by leading figures in the Queensland arts…