Annual Art Awards

The Art Awards started in 2008 following a partnership with the Queanbeyan Art Society dating back to 1975.

Council sponsored a major acquisitive prize at the society’s annual exhibition and the prize-winning artworks form the bulk of council’s art collection. The collection also contains additional works acquired at these exhibitions and others that have been gifted, and totals approximately 130 works.

Since 2008 the Art Awards have been both a non-acquisitive and acquisitive exhibition sponsored and managed by QPRC and held in The Q-Exhibition Space, in Queanbeyan. 

2025 Art Awards

The Braidwood and Bungendore branches of Bendigo Bank are once again partnering with Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council to support one of the Southern Tablelands' premier annual art prize competitions.

With the generous financial support from the Bendigo Bank branches in Braidwood and Bungendore, the art awards have expanded into a substantial prize pool to support and promote our region's visual art talent. With a total prize pool of $25,000, this annual event has become a significant regional art award.

In the 2025 event, new award categories have been introduced, including a $3,000 Mayor's Acquisitive Heritage Art Award. This award, which must depict an aspect of the region's built or natural heritage, will be selected by the Mayor in collaboration with the Council's arts and heritage advisors. Additionally, a new $1,000 Bendigo Pick Photographic Award will be chosen by Bendigo Bank representatives. A Curator's Choice Award will offer one exhibiting artist a fully supported solo exhibition at Rusten House Art Centre's beautiful Reading Room gallery.

Categories and Prizes for 2025

• $7,000 Council’s Acquisitive Art Award
• $3,000 Mayor’s Acquisitive Heritage Art Award
• $1,000 Highly Commended Heritage Art Award
• $3,000 3D Art Award
• $1,000 3D Highly Commended
• $3,000 First Nation's Award
• $1,000 First Nation's Highly Commended
• $2,000 Emerging Artist Award
• $2,000 Bendigo Pick Award
• $1,000 Bendigo Pick Photographic Award
• $1,000 Viewer’s Choice Award
• Curators Choice Award – Free Rusten House Exhibition

Key dates for the 2025 Art Awards

• Terms and Conditions Online - 15 January
• Registrations open - 31 March
• Registrations close - 30 April
• Delivery of artworks - 13 and 14 May
• Opening event - 24 May
• Exhibition runs - 24 May to 14 June
• Closing event - 14 June