The Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award was established in 2009 and is organised by the Art Collection and Galleries Unit at Deakin University, Victoria. The award celebrates contemporary sculptures from artists around Australia, culminating in an exhibition of finalists’ work held in August to October each year at the Deakin University Art Gallery.
A panel, who changes composition each year, shortlist around 40 entries as finalists from an average of 280 entries that are received annually. The same panel then chooses a Winner and a Highly Commended. The winning work goes into the Deakin University Art Collection.
The finalist exhibition is held for a period of 6-8 weeks at the Deakin University Art Gallery on Deakin’s Melbourne Burwood campus. At the end of the exhibition, a People’s Choice winner is determined by vote from exhibition visitors and the winning artist is awarded a non-acquisitive cash prize.
There is no cost to enter and entries are open to domestic artists from every state and territory in Australia. Entries are completed online with only one entry allowed per artist, as an individual or joint entrant. Artwork can be any medium but have to be freestanding, no more than 70 cm in any dimension and under 30 kilos in weight. Artworks must have been made in the 12 months prior to entry.
