Artists are invited to submit entries for the upcoming Great Southern Art Award. This exhibition will be presented over both floors of the Albany Town Hall during the 2026 Easter period. Celebrating creativity, innovation, and artistic excellence within our region, this award offers a professional platform for artists to showcase their talent to a wider audience. The award is open to established, emerging and young artists who reside in the Great Southern. Whether you are an experienced practitioner or just beginning your creative journey, we welcome diverse perspectives and practices in all visual art forms.
Applications will be open from 12 January 2026 at https://artsandculture.albany.wa.gov.au/exhibitions-events/great-southern-art-award
Entries close 5pm, 6 March or whenever the maximum capacity of 120 entries is reached; whichever occurs sooner. This will be broken down into the first 80 in the 18 and over age group and the first 40 for the under 18 age group.
There are over $10,000 worth of prizes with multiple award categories for both youth and adults.
If you’re planning to enter the 2026 Great Southern Art Award or the Great Southern Youth Art Award, we encourage you to review the updated Terms and Conditions.
Please note that some details have changed for the upcoming awards.
You can view the full Terms and Conditions below:
REGISTER FOR THE GREAT SOUTHERN ART AWARD 2026
VIEW FULL TERMS & CONDITIONS HERE
GREAT SOUTHERN ART AWARD 2026
4 April - 7 May | Albany Town Hall
Join us at Albany Town Hall for the 2026 Great Southern Art Award - a vibrant celebration of art, creativity and innovation across the Great Southern region.
This dynamic exhibition showcases the exceptional talent of local artists, providing a professional platform to present their work to a broad and engaged audience. Open to established, emerging and young artists living in the Great Southern, the exhibition embraces artistic expression across all visual art forms.
A diverse range of award categories recognises excellence at every level, including dedicated prizes for young creatives. The prestigious City of Albany Acquisitive Award will see the winning artwork acquired into the City of Albany Art Collection.
Visitors are also invited to vote for their favourite artwork.
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Awards:
City of Albany Acquisitive Award
$5,000 – Sponsored by City of Albany
Open to all entrants
18+ Categories
Painting Award (2D) – $1,000 | Sponsored by J & S Castlehow
Works on Paper Award (2D) – $1,000 | Sponsored by City of Albany
Print Award (2D) – $1,000 | Sponsored by City of Albany
First Nations Award (2D & 3D) – $1,000 | Sponsored by Great Southern Specialist Centre
3D Award – $1,000 | Sponsored by City of Albany
Popular Choice Award – $500 | Sponsored by Paperbark
Youth Categories (5–18 years)
Under 12 Years
Best 2D Artwork – $150 | Sponsored by City of Albany
Best 3D Artwork – $150 | Sponsored by Albany Signs
Popular Choice – $150 | Sponsored by Albany Art Supplies
12–18 Years
Best 2D Artwork – $250 | Sponsored by Best Office Systems
Best 3D Artwork – $250 | Sponsored by Albany Signs
Popular Choice – $250 | Sponsored by Albany Art Supplies
We gratefully acknowledge and thank all sponsors for their generous support of the Great Southern Art Award.
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Kids Art Activity
Gallery Explorers – ‘Find and Tick’
During the exhibition, children are invited to participate in this free interactive activity. Explore the gallery, locate the listed items and tick them off as you discover each artwork.
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Public Program
Join the Arts & Culture Public Programs Officer for an insightful guided talk exploring this year’s winning artworks. Discover what set these pieces apart, gain an understanding of the judging process, and hear about the artistic techniques, themes and creative approaches that captured the judges’ attention.
These engaging sessions offer visitors a deeper appreciation of the exhibition and a unique opportunity to learn more about the artists and their award-winning work.
Saturday 11 April, 10.30am – Focus on the Youth Winning Artists
Saturday 18 April, 10.30am – Focus on the Adult Winning Artists
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Exhibition: 4 April - 7 May 2026
Albany Town Hall
217 York Street, Albany
Open: Tue-Sat, 10-5pm
During the School Holidays, open Mondays 10-5pm