Organizer Information
Bilpin International Ground for Creative Initiatives (BigCi) is an independent, international artist-run residency program located on the edge of the Wollemi National Park within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains in Australia. Founded to bridge creative practice, natural science, and land advocacy, BigCi provides an immersive sanctuary for international and domestic creators. Located just 1.5 hours from Sydney, the center facilitates deep environmental engagement, field research, and cross-disciplinary projects within one of the world's most unique, biodiverse wilderness ecosystems.
Title & Description
BigCi Environmental Awards 2026: 12th Annual Call for Entries
The 12th annual BigCi Environmental Awards invite Australian and international artists across all disciplines to propose inspirational projects that directly address contemporary environmental issues. This curated open call seeks proposals that creatively respond to the unique wilderness, geomorphology, flora, and fauna of the Greater Blue Mountains, or explore conceptual natural science challenges. Two selected winners will each be awarded a month-long residency to execute their ideas. To deeply enrich their research, the residency includes personalized project assistance and expert-guided expeditions through the Wollemi, Blue Mountains, and Gardens of Stone National Parks. The program culminates in a public presentation of the winners' completed works during the festive BigCi Open Day event.
Categories
The award operates under a flexible, open-medium framework. Eligible disciplines include:
- Visual Art, Installation,
- Multimedia,
- Performance,
- Literature,
- Music,
- Photography,
- Filmmaking,
- Curating.
Eligibility
- Geographic Scope: Open to all individual artists or creative practitioners globally, including both international and Australian applicants.
- Practice Alignment: Applicants must demonstrate a practice that meaningfully explores environmental concepts or natural science themes. The proposed project must be feasible to execute within the four-week residency time frame.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Cash Prize: Each of the two selected winners receives A$5,000 in prize/spending money.
- Funded Residency: Four (4) weeks of free residency accommodation and studio space at BigCi in Bilpin, Australia.
- Field Research Assistance: Access to tailored research support and expert-led guided walks through adjacent World Heritage national parks.
- Public Showcase: A featured presentation and exhibition platform during the official BigCi Open Day event.
Application Fee
There is a non-refundable entry fee of A$40 per application, which must be finalized online via PayPal immediately following form submission. A PayPal account is not required to complete the payment. Portfolios will only be reviewed by the independent judging panel once the registration fee is paid.
Application Requirements
The online Wufoo application form must be completed in a single session. Artists are required to prepare and copy-paste the following elements:
- Project Proposal: A detailed text explaining how the proposed work responds to current environmental issues and connects to the Greater Blue Mountains ecosystem.
- Professional CV: A summary of artistic achievements and past formatting milestones.
- Supporting Materials: High-quality digital images representing past works (formatted strictly as JPEG files, maximum 1MB each) or text samples for literary applicants.
How to Apply?
All documentation and portfolio files must be submitted directly through the institutional Wufoo platform link. Hard-copy entries, email applications, or delayed uploads will not be considered.
- Application Link: BigCi Environmental Awards Wufoo Submission Portal
Key Dates
- Application Submission Deadline: August 2, 2026, at 5:00 PM AEST
- Official Winners Announcement: August 22, 2026
Location
The physical residency, park explorations, and public Open Day events take place live in Australia at:
- BigCi (Bilpin international ground for Creative initiatives), Blue Mountains, Australia
Additional Details
Because the application portal does not support intermediate draft saving, artists are strongly advised to pre-format all texts in a local processing document before initiating submission. If mandatory field validation errors occur during final submission, files and images must be uploaded again before proceeding to the integrated PayPal processing screen.