Organizer Information
Weswal Gallery is an independent commercial art gallery in East Tamworth, New South Wales, established in 1981 by ceramicist Frances (Fran) West and Marcia Schofield. It is regarded as the longest-running independent fine art gallery in the New England region, showcasing works from emerging to established local, regional, and national contemporary Australian artists, alongside a design store selling Australian-made ceramics, glass, wood, jewellery, and textiles. The gallery is currently owned by sisters Robin and Jean King. Within this context, Weswal Gallery administers the Interior Art Prize, an annual competition supported by local sponsors First National Real Estate Tamworth and Kookaburra Kitchen | Concepts Tamworth.
Title & Description
The Interior Art Prize 2026
The Interior Art Prize is an art competition administered by Weswal Gallery, offering a single prize of $4,000 along with the opportunity of a solo exhibition at the gallery. The prize money is provided by the competition's two sponsors. Entrants may submit one artwork each, which will be assessed by a gallery-appointed panel for inclusion in a finalist exhibition to be held at Weswal Gallery.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Painting
- Drawing
- Sculpture
- Ceramic
- Mixed Media
- Craft
Eligibility
- Open to all Australians (citizens or residents) who are 18 years or older on 2 August 2026
- Must be living in Australia as their main place of residence
- Proof of age or residency may be required
- Limited to one artwork entry per person
- Artworks by non-Aboriginal artists reflecting Aboriginal cultural themes and imagery will not be accepted unless created through an ethical partnership
- Entered artwork must be available for sale
Program Benefits & Awards
- Prize money: $4,000 (one prize awarded)
- Opportunity of a solo exhibition at Weswal Gallery for the winner
Application Fee
$20.00
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 13 September 2026
- Delivery of Finalist Artworks: 24 September 2026
- Exhibition/Loan Period: Friday 24 September – Saturday 7 November 2026
Location
Weswal Gallery, 192 Brisbane Street, Tamworth, NSW, Australia
Additional Details
- Copyright of the artwork remains with the artist; entrants warrant the artwork is original and does not infringe third-party copyright, moral rights, or other IP
- If selected as a Finalist, the artist grants the gallery a free, non-exclusive right to publish and reproduce the artwork in perpetuity in relation to the Prize, for education and archival purposes
- Artworks including Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) require acknowledgement of the relevant language group or community via a Notice of Custodial Interest, agreed with the artist upon selection as a Finalist
- A commission of 40% plus GST is charged on all sales; entrants represented by another gallery are responsible for notifying that gallery and settling any separate commission arrangement themselves
- All artworks must be listed for sale at the exhibition and online gallery, and must not be offered for sale on any other platform (e.g. Blue Thumb, Art Lovers, private social pages) during the Prize period
- The gallery reserves the right to hang the artwork as it sees fit, including not hanging it, and may decline to exhibit an artwork if it does not match the submitted image or is not in exhibitable condition
- Sale proceeds are settled within two weeks after payment clearance or exhibition closure, whichever is later
- Finalist selection is final, with no correspondence entered into regarding the decision
- Finalists must not disclose their identity during any applicable embargo period, and are asked to make themselves available for reasonable marketing/media opportunities with reasonable notice
- Finalists are responsible for all transit insurance to and from the gallery; the gallery insures the artwork at the artist's stated price while in its possession, care, or control, including while on display
- Artwork must be delivered at the entrant's expense and must not be removed before 2pm on the exhibition's closing day
- Artworks must be clearly labelled with the artist's name, artwork title, and telephone number, and submitted ready to install
- The gallery exercises professional care but takes no responsibility for damage or loss in transit; condition reports are conducted on receipt and prior to return, and can be provided to finalists on request
- Unsold artworks not collected at the close of the exhibition should be arranged for return with the gallery within three months of closure; uncollected works are managed per the Uncollected Goods Act