Whitehorse Art Prize

The Whitehorse Art Prize is a new acquisitive award for Victorian artists, awarding excellence in contemporary visual art across the fields of painting, works on paper, and ceramics.

The theme of the prize is art inspired by the natural environment.

Entries open 2 November 2026. Apply Now

About the Art Prize

Celebrating the centenary of the Whitehorse Art Collection in 2027, we are proud to launch the inaugural Whitehorse Art Prize, an exciting new opportunity for artists to showcase art inspired by the natural environment across the media of painting, works on paper and ceramics.

Entries should be inspired by the natural environment. This includes landscape-based artworks, as well as works that reflect or respond to the natural world in other ways. Contemporary interpretations of this theme are warmly encouraged.

All Victorian artists are eligible to enter the Main Prize ($20,000). Artists who live, work or study in the City of Whitehorse are additionally eligible for the Local Prize ($10,000). Artists submitting ceramic works are also eligible for the Lyn A. Baines Ceramic Prize ($5,000). Prize winners will receive prize money, and their winning artworks will be acquired into the Whitehorse Art Collection, one of the oldest and largest local government art collections in metropolitan Melbourne.

Whitehorse has a rich and storied history in the development of Australian art. As the cradle of Australian Impressionism at the Box Hill Artists' Camp in the mid 1880s, this opportunity honours our rich heritage of art inspired by the natural world, while celebrating contemporary art by leading and emerging practitioners from across Victoria.

A celebration of contemporary Australian art, the prize creates a new platform for Whitehorse City Council to add exceptional works to its collection and promote art and artists as a valuable part of the Australian community.

Selected finalists will be presented in a finalist exhibition at the Whitehorse Art Gallery. Winners will be announced at the Exhibition Opening event on Friday 16 April 2027.

Prizes

• Main Prize (Acquisitive): $20,000
• Local Prize (Acquisitive): $10,000
• Lyn A. Baines Ceramic Prize (Acquisitive): $5,000
• People's Choice Prize (Non-acquisitive): $1,000

Key dates

• Entries Open: Monday 2 November, 1pm
• Entries Close: Tuesday 15 December, 1pm
• Exhibition Dates: Saturday 17 April – Saturday 12 June 2027

Judging Panel

• Amy Kennedy is a ceramic artist and artist mentor whose sculptural practice explores the relationship between landscape, materiality and form. Her work is held in significant public collections, including the National Gallery of Victoria and the Art Gallery of South Australia. Amy is also the founder of The Daring Artist, where she mentors visual artists to develop exceptional work and have it seen and valued.
• Kelly Gellatly is an independent curator, writer and arts advocate based in Naarm/Melbourne. She was Director of the Ian Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne from 2013-2020; Curator of Contemporary Art at the National Gallery of Victoria from 2003-2013, and has held curatorial positions at the National Gallery of Australia and Heide Museum of Modern Art. Kelly is Chair of the Sheila Foundation, a national philanthropic foundation with the aim of ensuring equality for today’s women artists.
• Marguerite Brown is Curator at Whitehorse City Council. With two decades of experience in the visual arts sector, she has held leadership roles across commercial, not-for-profit and local government organisations. After completing a Master of Art Curatorship, Marguerite was awarded research opportunities at the University of Melbourne and the British Museum. She now curates the Whitehorse Art Gallery and Whitehorse Art Collection, creating opportunities for audiences to engage with contemporary art and artists.