Organizer Information
The Waverley Art Prize is an annual contemporary art competition organized by Waverley Council in partnership with the Waverley Woollahra Art School in Australia. Based at the Bondi Pavilion Art Gallery in Sydney, the prize is one of the most established local government–supported art awards in the country. It plays a significant role in supporting emerging and mid-career artists working in Visual Arts, with a strong focus on public engagement, exhibition opportunities, and institutional acquisition. Through its acquisitive structure and curated exhibition program, the prize contributes directly to the Waverley Council Art Collection and broader Australian contemporary art discourse.
Title & Description
Waverley Art Prize 2026 – Open Call for Painting, Drawing & Mixed Media
The Waverley Art Prize 2026 is a major Australian Award/Prize dedicated to contemporary Painting, Drawing, and Mixed Media practices. Hosted at the Bondi Pavilion Art Gallery, the competition invites artists to submit original works completed after July 2025, with an open thematic framework encouraging artistic freedom and experimentation.
Selected finalists will be featured in both physical and digital exhibitions, with a maximum of 40 works curated by a professional jury panel. The exhibition runs in summer 2026 and includes a public-facing online catalogue, enabling audience voting for the People’s Choice Prize and facilitating artwork sales.
The prize emphasises both artistic quality and professional presentation standards, positioning itself as a significant platform for visibility within the Australian art ecosystem. Acquisitive awards ensure that winning works enter the Waverley Council Art Collection, offering long-term institutional recognition for selected artists.
Categories
- Painting
- Drawing
- Mixed Media
- Visual Arts
- Illustration
- Contemporary Art
Eligibility
- Open to Australian residents only
- Applicants must be 18 years or older
- Not open to Waverley Council staff, councillors, or their immediate families
- Works must be original and completed after 1 July 2025
- Artists may submit up to 5 artworks
- Sculptural works are not eligible
- Photography is only accepted within Mixed Media
- Works must comply with size and presentation requirements
Program Benefits & Awards
- Waverley Art Prize: AUD $15,000 acquisitive award
- Mayor’s Prize: AUD $2,500 acquisitive award
- People’s Choice Prize: AUD $500 non-acquisitive
- Local Prize: AUD $1,500 sponsored award
- Inclusion in a curated exhibition at Bondi Pavilion Art Gallery
- National exposure through physical and online exhibition platforms
- Artwork acquisition into the Waverley Council Art Collection (for acquisitive prizes)
- Public sales opportunity during the exhibition period
- Institutional visibility and jury-selected recognition within Australian contemporary art
Application Fee
AUD $45 per artwork (including GST)
Application Requirements
- Online application form
- Digital image of each artwork (JPEG format, max 2MB per file)
- Correct file naming format: Surname – First name – Title – Media – Dimensions
- Artwork details (title, medium, dimensions, pricing)
- Maximum 5 submissions per artist
- Payment of the entry fee per artwork
- Finalists must submit a 150-word artist statement upon selection
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Deadline: 10 May 2026
- Finalist Notification: Week of 1 June 2026
- Artwork Delivery: 23–25 June 2026
- Exhibition Period: 3 July – 23 August 2026
- Awards Announcement: 3 July 2026 (opening event)
- People’s Choice Result: Week of 24 August 2026
- Artwork Collection: 24 August 2026
Location
Sydney (Bondi Pavilion Art Gallery), Australia
Additional Details
- Works must be professionally framed or ready for installation (except stretched canvas)
- Artists are responsible for transport, insurance, and delivery
- No liability is accepted for damage during transit or exhibition
- Acquisitive works become part of the Waverley Council Art Collection, while artists retain copyright
- Sales during the exhibition are possible with a 30% commission applied
- Final jury decisions are binding and non-appealable
- Selected works are displayed both physically and in an online archive
- Photography and reproduction rights may be used by the council for promotional purposes