Footscray Art Prize (main)

The coveted Footscray Art Prize is the main category of this competition.

It invites artists from across Australia and multiple visual art practises to go in the running for the $20,000 prize, which has been doubled from previous years to acknowledge the impact of COVID-19 on visual artists.

eligibility

  • Must be an Australian resident aged 18 and over

  • The artwork must be an original artistic work, which includes but is not limited to paintings, drawings, photographs, engravings, sculptures and installations, digital and video work

  • The artwork submitted must not:

    • have not been previously exhibited for an art prize

    • have been created more than two years prior to the 2023 exhibition start date

    • exceed 1.4 metres x 2 metres x 1.4 metres (depth) or 30kg in weight

  • Maximum of two entries. Read more about this in our FAQs.

  • Entry fee of $35 is applicable per artwork entered.

sub-categories

Entrants may also nominate to enter into two sub-categories at no extra fee:

Local Prize (Acquisitive)

(maribyrnong city council art & heritage collection)

Maribyrnong City Council will select a winning artwork to be acquired into the Maribyrnong City Council art collection in exchange for a $10,000 prize.

  • Entry is open only to residents of the Local Government Areas of Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Brimbank, Melton, Moonee Valley, and Wyndham.

  • The winner is selected by Maribyrnong City Council, based on its relevance to the themes and acquisition criteria of Maribyrnong City Council’s Art and Heritage Collections Policy. Key themes include:

    • Our Environment (Maribyrnong’s natural and urban landscape, rivers, landmarks, built heritage and Country);

    • Our People (social, political, economic, cultural, historic);

    • Our Growth (industry, workforce, working conditions, travel, communications);

    • Our Identity (waves of migration, demographics, communities, social histories); and

    • Our Culture (First Nations cultural heritage, historic and contemporary art movements, diversity, creativity, debate and ideas).

A non-acquisitive Prize for artists to explore new ideas.              

  • Minimum two-week (maximum three month) artistic residency at Footscray Community Arts (does not include accommodation).

  • The winner will be awarded $2,000 towards an artist fee, materials and costs incurred by the artist as part of the residency and accompanying showing.

  • The winner of the Footscray Art Prize (main) will be ineligible for the Residency Artist Prize.

RESIDENCY ARTIST PRIZE

how to enter

All entries must be submitted online via footscrayartprize.awardsplatform.com.

Entries open on Monday 3 October 2022 and close at midday on Monday 20 March 2023.

Read the Terms & Conditions prior to entering the Prize.