Wollongong Art Gallery is excited to usher in a new era for our city's creative identity, with applications now open for the new Wollongong Art Prize.
This revived art competition seeks to showcase the breadth and vitality of contemporary art practice and add a new chapter to the Illawarra's artistic legacy. Artists from around Australia, across all mediums, are invited to submit an artwork that reflects the diversity, energy and complexity of contemporary life – locally and beyond.
It opens a door of opportunity to our new generation of artists with a significant $32,000 prize pool on offer. The acquisitive top prize – affectionately named 'The Top Gong for the Gong' – carries a $25,000 prize, while the Wollongong Art Gallery Friends' Local Artist Award ($5000) and the People's Choice Award ($2,000) complete the prize pool.
The Wollongong Art Prize is a reimagining of the original prize established in 1956 and has been a cultural tradition for the city, attracting in its formative years, artists such as Col Jordan, James Hall and Lorriane Holmes.
The Gallery has proudly continued its legacy through different formats, including the recent FLOW Contemporary Watercolour Prize.
Wollongong Art Gallery Director Daniel Mudie Cunningham is excited by the opportunities the new Wollongong Art Prize format can offer in 2025.
"Revitalising the prize is about more than just art; it's about access, inclusivity and community," he said.
"By opening the prize to all mediums, we're not just expanding the canvas, we're expanding the conversation. I'm excited about the opportunity to break down traditional barriers, as artists of all backgrounds and practices can bring their contribution to the table.
"Whether it's digital media, sculpture, ceramics, drawing, watercolour, or painting, we're creating a space where innovation and experimentation are welcomed and celebrated."
The prize winners and finalists will be showcased at the Art Gallery from 6 December 2025 to 1 March 2026.
"The prize exhibition will give our community the chance to experience contemporary art, in a way that's fresh, dynamic and deeply connected to place," Mr Mudie Cunningham said.
"It will invite people to not just view art, but to engage with it, question it, and see your own story reflected in the works."
Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown believes that the refreshed take on the beloved art competition will continue to foster our creative and innovative city.
"It's an understatement to say that we've got an incredible number of gifted artists, especially here in Wollongong, and we're committed to supporting their talents," she said.
"This is a great opportunity for us to champion the industry's diversity and the contemporary visionaries that are emerging. I encourage all artists to take up the challenge. Everyone expresses their art in different ways and this ethos will be the strength of this exhibition."
The Wollongong Art Prize is a biennial art competition. Applications are open until Sunday 14 September. Finalists will be announced on Monday 27 October.
For more details and how to apply, please visit the Wollongong Art Gallery website.
