Dobell Drawing Prize #22

he National Art School and the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation invites artists to submit entries in competition for the Dobell Drawing Prize #22. The $30,000 acquisitive prize will be awarded at the opening of the finalists’ exhibition at NAS Gallery on 25 March 2021. To be eligible for selection, artists must read the terms and conditions of entry and complete the steps in the online entry form below. Entries close 5pm, Monday 5 October.

The Dobell Drawing Prize is the leading drawing exhibition in Australia and an unparalleled celebration of drawing innovation. Presented in partnership with the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation (SWDAF), the biennial prize explores the enduring importance of drawing within contemporary art practice.

William Dobell’s love of drawing was recognised in 1993 when the Art Gallery of New South Wales established an annual drawing prize in his name, initiated by the trustees of the SWDAF. For twenty years, the annual Dobell Prize for Drawing encouraged excellence in drawing and draughtsmanship among Australian artists. Past winners include Kevin Connor, Virginia Grayson, Nicholas Harding, Ann Pollak, Gareth Sansom, Jan Senbergs, Garry Shead and Aida Tomescu.

Building on the legacy of this respected award, the National Art School partnered with the SWDAF in 2019 to produce the inaugural Dobell Drawing Prize. This new iteration of the prize celebrates technical skill, innovation and expanded definitions of drawing. The Dobell Drawing Prize #21 presented diverse entries in textile, sculpture, performance and photography alongside traditional drawing mediums. 57 finalists were selected out of a record 788 entries from across Australia. The guest judge Ben Quilty awarded the $30,000, acquisitive prize to Justine Varga, who uses photographic processes as a means of drawing.

The prize has found a context to thrive in at the National Art School. The exhibition is part of the NAS Festival of Drawing, a biennial event organised by the School’s Drawing Department. The festival includes talks, workshops and a research symposium. The prize also compliments the School’s esteemed academic drawing program: drawing is a core component of undergraduate studies at NAS and is taught throughout each degree.