Organizer Information
South East Centre for Contemporary Art (SECCA) is a contemporary art gallery in Bega, New South Wales, Australia, operated by Bega Valley Shire Council. SECCA presents exhibitions and programs supporting contemporary visual arts and artists. It organizes the Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award, a biennial prize dedicated to realistic portrait painting in Australia. The Award is supported by patron Peter Hannan and has previously recognized artists including Lucy Culliton, Shaun Gladwell and Sally Robinson.
Title & Description
Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award 2026
Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award 2026 is a biennial Australian portrait painting competition offering a $50,000 non-acquisitive award for the portrait judged best by the invited guest judge. The 2026 edition emphasizes the continuing importance of human observation, technical skill and interpretation in an era increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence and digitally generated imagery.
Eligible works must be realistic, non-abstract depictions of a particular living person who is known to the artist and aware that they are being portrayed. Self-portraits are also eligible. Works may have been exhibited elsewhere but must not previously have been exhibited at SECCA.
For 2026, the Award has introduced a reduced entry fee and additional financial support for finalists, including an artist loan fee and a contribution toward freight costs.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Painting
- Portraiture
- Realistic Portrait Painting
- Figurative Art
Eligibility
The Award is open to:
- Australian artists and Australian permanent residents
- Artists aged 18 or over at the time of entry
- Individual artists and collectives
- Artists submitting self-portraits or portraits of other living people
The artwork must have been completed since October 2024. Mixed-media works may be entered provided they are substantially painted.
Employees of Bega Valley Shire Council, Bega Valley Shire Councillors and their families are not eligible.
Program Benefits & Awards
- $50,000 biennial major prize
- Finalist exhibition at SECCA
- Finalists receive an artist loan fee
- $200 freight bursary for each finalist
- Artwork insured by SECCA while in its possession
- Public exhibition from December 2026 to February 2027
- Winner announced at the official opening event
- Opportunity for national exposure through one of Australia's major realistic portrait prizes
The Award is non-acquisitive, meaning the winning artwork remains with the artist.
Application Fee
The entry fee is AUD $35 (including GST) per artwork. Fees are non-refundable. Each artwork requires a separate entry and fee. Artists may submit multiple works, although only one work per artist can be selected for the finalist exhibition.
Payment is made securely through Square via the online entry form.
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 6 October 2026
- Finalists announced: October 2026
- Artwork delivery: 25 November–3 December 2026, weekdays 10 am–4 pm
- Opening and winner announcement: 11 December 2026, 5:30–7:30 pm
- Exhibition: 12 December 2026–27 February 2027
Location
SECCA, Bega, New South Wales, Australia
Additional Details
Works may be single or multi-panel, but the total artwork area, including spaces between multiple pieces and the frame, cannot exceed 200 × 200 cm. The maximum weight is 35 kg.
Artists are responsible for delivery, return transport and transport insurance. SECCA provides finalists with a $200 freight bursary. Artists should retain and clearly label their packing materials because these will be reused for return freight.
Artwork must be clearly identified with the artist's full name, contact details and artwork title on the back. Artists should also note that work cannot previously have been exhibited at SECCA.
The 2026 guest judge is Dr Robert Wellington, associate professor of art history at the Australian National University and an award-winning author who has also served as a judge on ABC's Portrait Artist of the Year.