Wollongong Art Prize (Acquisitive) is a national prize, open to all Australian artists. Now reimagined for a new generation, the competition invites submissions from artists working across all mediums including ceramic, collage, drawing, painting, photography, print, sculpture, textile, video and watercolour. With a strong emphasis on accessibility, inclusivity, and community engagement, the prize seeks to showcase the breadth and vitality of contemporary art practice.
$32,000 total prize pool
The Wollongong Art Prize opens a door of opportunity to our new generation of artists with a significant $32,000 prize pool on offer.
- The Top Gong for the Gong – $25,000 acquisitive prize-winning work will be acquired by Wollongong Art Gallery.
- Local Artist Award – $5,000 Proudly supported by the Friends of Wollongong Art Gallery. To be eligible for the Local Artist Award of $5,000, entrants must indicate their local status on the entry form. Local Artist is defined as a resident within one of the following Local Government Areas:
• Wollongong City Council
• Kiama Municipal Council
• Shellharbour Council
• Wingecarribee Shire Council - The People’s Choice Award – $2,000 This award will be determined by public vote via the online platform. Each voter must register and may cast only one vote. Voting will be open for the duration of the exhibition: From Friday, 5 December at 6:00 pm Until Sunday, 1 March at 4:00 pm
The prize winners and selected artworks will be showcased in the Gallery from Saturday 6 December 2025 to Sunday 1 March 2026.
Entries open now until 14 September
The Wollongong Art Prize is a biennial art competition. Entries are open now until Sunday 14 September.
Artists are encouraged to contribute to this exciting new chapter in the Illawarra’s artistic legacy. We look forward to receiving your submissions!
For more information click here
