Established in 1958, the Muswellbrook Art Prize is one of the richest prizes for painting in regional Australia and has grown into a nationally respected award for modern and contemporary Australian art.
Finalists compete for a total prize pool of $70,000 across three acquisitive categories:
-
Painting – $50,000 (acquisitive)
-
Works on Paper – $10,000 (acquisitive)
-
Ceramics – $10,000 (acquisitive)
Through decades of careful adjudication, the Prize has built an exceptional collection of post-war and contemporary Australian artworks. Winning works form the core of the Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection, which spans from the mid-20th century to the present.
Notable past winners include David Aspden, Sydney Ball, Richard Larter, and Fred Williams, alongside strong representation from the Upper Hunter region, with artists such as Peter Atkins, Dale Frank, Lyn Nash, and Hanna Kay also recognised.
The Prize is sponsored and administered by Muswellbrook Shire Council, with long-term support from Bengalla Mining Company, whose sponsorship over more than 30 years has contributed significantly to the growth of the Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection.
Key Dates
-
Entries open: 3 November 2025
-
Entries close: Midnight, 2 February 2026
-
Finalists announced: 13 February 2026
-
Exhibition launch & announcement of winners: 4:00pm, 21 March 2026
Exhibition dates: 19 March – 23 May 2026
Image: Margaret Loy Pula, Anatye – Bush Potato 2012, acrylic on Belgian linen, 149 x 152cm, Winner Muswellbrook Art Prize 2013, Painting, Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection.
