Art Prize

About the Art Prize

The City of Rockingham Art Prize returns for 2024, with a cash prize pool of $20,000 non-acquisitive.

The City of Rockingham Art Prize recognises artistic achievement in a range of categories. Each year Western Australian emerging and professional artists are invited to submit their works for selection, in any two or three-dimensional medium.

Artworks are selected and judged by an independent panel. Following judging, works will be on exhibition at the Rockingham Arts Centre from Saturday 15 June to Sunday 30 June 2024.

Entries for the 2024 Art Prize open Wednesday 1 November 2023 and will close 4pm Friday 16 February 2024.

An online entry form is available now.

Kay Wood, Fancy ware (decorative, non-essential, useful object), 2023, glazed earthenware, found timber, 30 x 22 x 17 cm.

2024 Art Prize Curator

We are pleased to appoint Sandra Murray as the Art Prize Curator for 2024.

Sandra is a leading independent curator, arts consultant and artist mentor. She has a depth of experience in working with artists, collections, and exhibitions, including directing and curating for art and museum institutions in WA and NSW, and has worked in the public, corporate, not-for-profit, and private sectors.

Sandra has project managed and curated over 60 art and museum exhibitions. She holds a Bachelor of Honours in Art History and Theory, and a Master of Philosophy.

How to enter

Selection of entries

Works will be selected by an independent panel from the submitted digital images.

The Selection Panel’s decision for inclusion of entries is final and no correspondence or discussion will be entered into. Lobbying the curator, selection panel, or City of Rockingham staff will result in instant disqualification and preclude entry in future Awards.

Entry form

Please ensure you have read the Terms and Conditions, and the list of key dates before you submit your entry.

Enter online

Terms and Conditions

Please read the Terms and Conditions prior to submitting your entry.

Key dates

Milestone	Date
Entries Open	Wednesday 1 November 2023
Information Session	Sunday 3 December, 2.30pm
How to Write an Artist Statement Workshop	Saturday 20 January, time TBA
Entries Close	Friday 16 February 2024, 4pm
Notification of Acceptance	Friday 1 March 2024
Artwork Drop-off	Monday 10 June 2024
Judging	Thursday 13 June 2024
Exhibition Open to the Public	Saturday 15 June 2024
Awards Presentation	Saturday 15 June 2024
Exhibition Close	Sunday 30 June 2024
Artwork Collection	Monday 1 July 2024

Information Session

Date: Sunday 3 December 2023
Time: 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Location: Rockingham Arts Centre, 11 Kent Street, Rockingham
Cost: Free
Registrations close: 4pm, Thursday 30 November 2023.

Curator Sandra Murray will be holding an Information Session detailing what you need to prepare to enter the 2024 City of Rockingham Art Prize.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session.

The session is free to join, but registration is required.

Workshop - How to Write an Artist Statement

Date: Saturday 20 January 2024
Time: 1pm – 3pm
Location: Rockingham Arts Centre, 11 Kent Street, Rockingham
Cost: $10 per person
Registrations close: 4pm, Wednesday 17 January 2024. Limited to 20 participants.

This workshop will help you understand the purpose of an artist statement and how to write one effectively, including the differences between an artist statement and a biography.

Alcoa Mandurah Art Gallery Curator James Walker will share some strategies to help you discuss your work to communicate with an audience, and to assist when entering exhibitions and prizes.

To book, please call the Rockingham Arts Centre on 9527 0734 between 9am and 4pm, Wednesday to Sunday or email artscentre@rockingham.wa.gov.au.

Prize Categories

Category	Prize (all non-acquisitive)	Selection Criteria
First Prize (Open)	$10,000	Presented to the most outstanding artwork.
Small Sculpture Award	$4,000	Awarded for three dimensional media, defined as having depth as well as height and width, not being flat or framed, including sculpture, ceramics, woodwork, textiles.
First Nations Artist Award	$2,000	Most outstanding artwork by an artist identifying as First Nations people.
Emerging Artist Award	$2,000	Most outstanding work by an artist in the first seven years’ of their practice since graduating from tertiary studies or commencing their career as an artist.
Local Resident Award	$1,500	Most outstanding work by an artist residing within the City of Rockingham.
People's Choice Award	$500	Awarded to the artist whose artwork receives the most votes from members of the public.

2023 Art Prize

Out of 468 Western Australian visual artists who entered the 2023 Art Prize, the works of 67 exceptional finalists were exhibited from Saturday 6 May to Sunday 21 May 2023.

Finalists included established and emerging artists from across urban and regional WA, spanning drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography and mixed-media.

2023 Art Prize Catalogueopens in a new window

Virtual Tour of the 2023 Art Prizeopens in a new window

Sponsor

With thanks to our 2023 sponsor: Artsourceopens in a new windowopens in a new window

Artsource (The Artists Foundation of WA) is Western Australia’s leading visual arts network and membership organisation for artists. They champion Western Australia’s visual arts community through professional resources for artists, advocacy, facilities (including studios), tailored insurance, and a host of other services.