Entries for the inaugural ACT Historic Places Art Prize are now open. Artists, crafts creators and designers are encouraged to apply. 

What is it? 

In 2022-23, ACT Historic Places is excited to announce the launch of a new Art Prize to support ACT and regional artists to exhibit their works and to encourage a deeper appreciation of Canberra’s cultural and natural heritage through artistic engagements with our cultural places.   

The ACT Historic Places Art Prize is a regional, non-acquisitive competition and exhibition. It is open to works in any medium by artists aged 18 years and over who are a resident of the ACT or the surrounding Canberra region (including Bega, Eurobodalla, Hilltops, Goulburn Mulwaree, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Snowy Monaro, Upper Lachlan and Yass Valley LGAs). 

Prizes 

The prize pool totals over $20,000  

1st prize: $7,000 
2nd prize: $3,000 
3rd prize: Solo Exhibition at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre with $500 cash for solo exhibition support (value approx. $5,500). 
Craft and Design Prize: Solo exhibition at Craft ACT Gallery (value approx. $7000). Proudly supported by CraftACT. 
People’s Choice Award: $500. To be announced at the close of the exhibition. 

Criteria 

Artworks submitted should respond to Lanyon Homestead - its natural and cultural history, tangible and intangible heritage, Indigenous and non-Indigenous occupants, workers and families. Through their response, artists are encouraged to consider themes around public and private spaces and the tensions inherent in each within the place’s historic, current and future contexts.  

Selection of Finalists will be based on:  

• Degree of artistic merit and development of concepts. 
• Level of recognition of, and direct response to Lanyon Homestead and its history, context, collection, gardens and stories. 

The Finalist awarded the Craft and Design Prize will be judged on: 

• Demonstrated excellence in the discipline of Craft and Design 
• Conceptual sophistication in response to the ACTHP Art Prize conceptual intent 
• Innovative use of materials
• Technical skill demonstrated in the making of the artwork. 

Finalists 

Artworks chosen as Finalists will be exhibited in select locations in /on the property to create an immersive house museum and garden experience. The Art Prize Finalists’ Exhibition opens late July (TBC) 2023 and closes on Sunday 15 October 2023. 

Winners will be announced at the launch of the exhibition. 

JUDGING PANEL

Caroline Downer – Director, Tuggeranong Arts Centre

Jodie Cunningham – CEO, Craft ACT

Joanna Gilmour – Curator, National Portrait Gallery

Anna Wong –Director, Canberra Museum and Gallery

Key dates 

• Art Prize Launch - Friday 4 November 2022 
• Artists’ site briefing - 10am Tuesday 14th February, 2pm Friday 17th February, 11am Wedsnesday 22nd February, 10:30am Saturday 25th February and 2pm Thursday 2nd March - Book your spot 
  
• Entries close - Monday 5 June 2023 at 5pm 
• Artists selected for exhibition  - notified by Monday 3 July 2023 
• Artwork delivery dates - Thursday 20 or Saturday 22 July 2023, between 10am and 3pm 
• Prize winners announced at the exhibition opening – late July (date TBC) 
• Exhibition Dates - late July – Sunday 15 October 2023