Liverpool Powerhouse is proud to announce that entries are now open for the 69th Blake Prize, one of Australia's longest-running and most significant art prizes.
At its heart, the Blake Prize is not only just about spirituality or religion—it is about the universal search for meaning. For some artists, that journey is rooted in religious faith; for others, it is shaped by spiritual rituals or alternative belief systems. In every case, the Blake provides a platform for art that sparks reflection and opens up conversations often avoided in everyday life.
Deputy Mayor Dr Betty Green said the Blake Prize continues to resonate because of its courage in engaging with complex, deeply human themes:
"The Blake Prize makes us pause and reflect. It's about exploring how we see the sacred in our lives, how we hold doubt and belief, and how art can make sense of those deeply human experiences. Liverpool is proud to be the home of such an important cultural event, especially in a community as diverse and spiritually rich as ours," she said.
"It remains as relevant today as it was in 1951. In a time when public conversation often feels polarised, the Prize offers a rare space for reflection, empathy, and curiosity. It is an invitation to consider not just what divides us, but what connects us—our hopes, our doubts, our rituals, and our shared humanity.
"The Blake Prize opens space for dialogue. Even when works provoke strong reactions, they remind us that conversations about belief and meaning are vital. The Prize remains one of the few national platforms where artists can openly explore the sacred, the spiritual, and the deeply personal, where audiences are invited to consider perspectives beyond their own."
The newly launched Blake Next Gen Scholarship reflects the Prize's enduring commitment to the future of art and dialogue. It will provide mentorship, curatorial support, and financial assistance to help an emerging artist present their first institutional solo exhibition at Liverpool Powerhouse in 2027–28.
Timeline:Entries for the 69th Blake Prize open on Monday 15 September and close on Saturday 15 November. Finalists will be announced on Friday 30 January 2026 and the exhibition itself runs from Saturday 21 March 2026 until Sunday 10 May 2026.
