Organizer Information
Newcastle Art Gallery is a major public art institution operated by the City of Newcastle, New South Wales. The Gallery opened in its purpose-built current building in 1977 and is regarded as Australia’s first purpose-built regional art gallery. Its collection spans more than 200 years of Australian art and includes more than 7,000 works. Following a major expansion, the Gallery fully reopened in February 2026 with expanded exhibition spaces and facilities.
The Kilgour Prize has been administered by Newcastle Art Gallery since 2006. It was established through a bequest from Australian figurative and portrait painter Jack Noel Kilgour (1900–1987) and has become a recurring national art competition focused on figurative and portrait painting.
Title & Description
Kilgour Prize 2027
The Kilgour Prize 2027 is an Australian national art competition for professional artists working in figurative and portrait painting. The competition seeks outstanding contemporary paintings and offers a major AUD $50,000 prize selected by a professional judging panel.
A separate AUD $5,000 People’s Choice Award is awarded to the painting receiving the most public votes during the exhibition. The competition is non-acquisitive, meaning the prize does not require the winning artwork to be acquired by the Gallery.
The 2027 edition marks the 20th anniversary of the Kilgour Prize and its return following the Gallery’s expansion and reopening.
Categories
- Painting
- Figurative Painting
- Portrait Painting
The submitted work must be a painting using mediums such as oil, synthetic polymer paint (acrylic), enamel and/or tempera.
Eligibility
The competition is open nationally to professional artists based in Australia who are either:
- Australian citizens; or
- Australian residents who have resided in Australia for at least 12 months.
Applicants must be 18 years or older. The submitted artwork must have been completed within the 12 months preceding 5 October 2026. The artwork must not exceed 200 cm in any direction.
Program Benefits & Awards
- AUD $50,000 Major Prize for the most outstanding figurative or portrait painting.
- AUD $5,000 People’s Choice Award.
- Finalist works are presented in the Kilgour Prize exhibition at Newcastle Art Gallery.
- The exhibition provides national public exposure within a major Australian regional art institution.
Application Fee
The entry fee is AUD $50. Surcharges may apply. Payment is required for an entry to be fully processed. After submitting the entry form, applicants receive a payment link by email.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 5 October 2026
- Finalists announced: November/December 2026
- Finalist artwork delivery: 23 March 2027
- Exhibition: 10 April–1 August 2027
- Winner: Announced at the exhibition opening in April 2027
Location
1 Laman Street, Newcastle, Australia
Additional Details
Applicants should ensure that their submitted work meets the size and completion-date requirements. The application requires an image of the artwork, artwork title, medium, support, estimated value and an artist statement. Artwork images may be submitted as JPEG, PNG or TIFF files, with a maximum file size of 20 MB. An artist website may also be provided but is not compulsory.
If selected as a finalist, artists must deliver the physical artwork to Newcastle Art Gallery with the required D-ring fixtures attached.