In its second year and in celebration of the Lake Macquarie Dobell Festival, the Museum of Art and Culture, yapang (MAC yapang) is inviting young artists aged 5 – 18 to participate in the Young Dobell competition.
Sir William Dobell was a three-time Archibald Prize winner who lived in Lake Macquarie and was known for his portraits and landscape artworks.
Young Dobell competition participants are encouraged to create either a portrait of a person or pet who plays a significant role in their life, or a landscape artwork of a place that is special to them.
The competition is open to young people throughout Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Maitland, the broader Hunter Valley areas and the Central Coast.
Young Dobell exhibition
All artwork selected as finalists in the competition will be on display in the Young Dobell exhibition at the Museum of Art and Culture, yapang (MAC yapang). This exhibition is on view 31 May – 3 August 2025.
Prizes
The Judges will select one winner per category from each of the seven age groups.
Each winner will be presented with a certificate and a MAC yapang Workshop Voucher.
This voucher can be used to attend any workshop held at MAC yapang!
There will also be seven highly commended artists who will be presented with a certificate.
There are two theme categories and seven age groups in the competition:
Theme categories
- Portrait of a person or pet
- Landscape artwork of a place that is important to the artist
Age groups
- 5 & 6 year olds
- 7 & 8 year olds
- 9 & 10 year olds
- 11 & 12 year olds
- 13 & 14 year olds
- 15 & 16 year olds
- 17 & 18 year olds
Key dates
- Saturday 1 March – Competition entries open
- Thursday 8 May – Competition entries close at 12pm (online submission forms must be completed)
- Thursday 15 May – Finalists announced online
- 31 May – 3 August – Young Dobell exhibition on view
- Sunday 1 June – 2025 Young Dobell exhibition celebration and award presentation at MAC yapang from 11am
Judges
The finalist competition will be judged by Ellie Hannon and MAC yapang Curator, Jasmine Kean.
For more information click here
