Organizer Information
M16 Artspace is an artist-run contemporary art organisation in Canberra, Australia, founded in 1985. It supports emerging and established artists, writers and curators and presents exhibitions by artists from Canberra, interstate and overseas. M16 Artspace currently operates multiple gallery spaces and artist studios and is partially supported by the ACT Government. The M16 Artspace Drawing Prize has been part of its exhibition calendar since 2006 and attracts entries from artists across Australia.
Title & Description
M16 Artspace Drawing Prize 2026
The M16 Artspace Drawing Prize 2026 is a national art competition and exhibition celebrating contemporary drawing in its broadest sense. The prize welcomes both traditional drawing media and experimental practices that challenge conventional definitions of drawing. Artists may submit works that cross into painting, sculpture, installation, moving image and other contemporary formats, provided the work can be understood within an expanded drawing practice.
Selected finalists will have their works presented in an exhibition at M16 Artspace, with approximately 20–25 artworks expected to be selected. Finalists' works may also be listed for purchase through the M16 Artspace digital stockroom.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Drawing
Eligibility
The competition is open to artists aged 18 and over who are based in Australia. Submitted works must have been completed between 2024 and 2026, must be original works by the artist, and must be available for exhibition. Works must generally be unframed and unmounted and ready for installation.
A separate First Nations Artist Award is available to artists who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. The Local Artist Award is open to eligible artists residing in the Australian Capital Territory or within 100 km of the ACT, including artists whose practice is demonstrably Canberra-based.
Program Benefits & Awards
The main M16 Artspace Drawing Prize offers AUD $10,000. Additional awards include:
- Highly Commended: AUD $1,000
- First Nations Artist Award: AUD $2,000
- Megalo Print Studio Local Artist Award: Two-week studio residency, 12-month membership and five hours of one-on-one tuition
- Local Artist Award: AUD $500 art materials voucher
- People's Choice Award: AUD $500 framing voucher
Finalists receive exhibition exposure at M16 Artspace and may have their works promoted through the gallery's website and digital stockroom.
Application Fee
The entry fee is AUD $45 for one artwork, AUD $40 for a second artwork and AUD $35 for a third artwork, with a maximum of three entries. Fees include GST and are non-refundable. M16 Artspace members receive a 20% discount. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artists and Pension Concession Card holders can enter free of charge.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 4 October 2026
- Finalist Notification: 26 October 2026
- Finalist Artwork Delivery: 4 November 2026
- Exhibition Opening & Awards: 21 November 2026
- Exhibition: 21 November–13 December 2026
- Unsold Artwork Collection: 15–17 December 2026
Location
M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith, ACT 2603, Australia
Additional Details
All entered works must be available for sale. M16 Artspace coordinates sales and retains a 30% commission on sold works. Artists retain copyright ownership, while M16 receives non-exclusive rights to use submitted artwork images and artist statements for promotional and digital-stockroom purposes.
Artists should also note the physical requirements: wall-hanging works may not exceed 2 × 2 metres or 10 kg, while specific smaller limits apply to free-standing and wall-hanging sculptural works. M16 Artspace may provide presentation systems for video, sound and film, although artists may be required to handle complex installations themselves.