Art Prizes, Shows & Exhibitions for Artists
Opportunities for artists below
Local Shows
Regional Galleries
National Shows
Local - Toowoomba & Surrounds
Art Prizes, Art Shows & Art Exhibition Opportunities for Artists
Toowoomba Royal Show (Fine Art Section)
Organisation: RASQ
Applications Open: February
Show Month: March
Subject: Multiple (Landscape, Portrait, Still Life, Abstract, Drawing).
Criteria: Open to all Australian artists.
Cost: $15 approx.
Prize: Cash prizes
Toowoomba Grammar Art Show
Organisation: Toowoomba Grammar School
Applications Open: Dec
Show Month: March
Subject: Contemporary Australian Art.
Criteria: Open to all Australian artists (curated).
Cost: $50 (once selected)
Foothills Art Show (Withcott)
Organisation: Withcott Helidon Lions Club
Applications Open: Early March
Show Month: End of March
Subject: Extensive categories including Artisan Jewellery, Mixed Media, Photography & Digital Media, Sculpture, Wood Objects / Handcrafted Furniture, Ceramics, Painting, Textiles & Wearable Art, Drawing & Pastels, Paper, and Print Making
Criteria: Open to all artists; specific categories for Primary and Secondary students.
Cost: Small entry fee per work (confirm on entry form).
Prize: Category prizes and Public Choice awards.
Fairholme Open Art Prize (FACETS)
Organisation: RASQ
Applications Open: February
Show Month: May
Subject: Open – Contemporary works.
Criteria: Open to all Global artists.
Cost: $35
Prize: $10,000 Open Prize
Hampton Food & Arts Festival
Organisation: Hampton Festival Committee
Applications Open: January / February
Show Month: May
Subject: Multiple (Fine Art Exhibition + Workshops)
Criteria: Open to all artists (focus on regional talent)
Cost: $10-20
Downlands Art Exhibition
Organisation: Downlands School
Applications Open: June
Show Month: September
Subject: Open Theme.
Criteria: Open to all Australian artists.
Bush Christmas Exhibition
Organisation: Bush Christmas Committee
Applications Open: June/July
Show Month: November
Subject: High-quality handmade gifts and visual art.
Criteria: Open to regional and rural artists/crafters.
Toowoomba Art Society (Monthly Member Exhibitions)
Organisation: Toowoomba Art Society
Applications Open: Monthly
Show Month: Rolling
Criteria: Restricted to TAS members.
Local Royal Shows
Pittsworth Show (Art Section)
Organisation: Pittsworth Show Society
Applications Open: January
Show Month: March
Subject: Painting, Drawing, Photography, Craft
Criteria: Open to all
Cost: $2-5 approx.
Prize: Cash prizes & Ribbons
Oakey Show (Art Pavilion)
Organisation: Oakey Show Society
Applications Open: January
Show Month: March
Subject: Fine Art, Photography, School work
Criteria: Open to all
Cost: $1-5 approx.
Prize: Cash prizes & Ribbons
Stanthorpe Show (Art Pavilion)
Organisation: Stanthorpe Agricultural Society
Applications Open: December
Show Month: January / February
Subject: Fine Art & Photography
Criteria: Open to all
Cost: $3 approx.
Prize: Cash prizes
Clifton Show (Art Section)
Organisation: Clifton Show Society
Applications Open: January
Show Month: February
Subject: Multiple Fine Art categories
Criteria: Open to all
Cost: $2 approx.
Prize: Cash prizes
Killarney Show (Art Pavilion)
Organisation: Killarney Show & Rodeo Society
Applications Open: December
Show Month: February
Subject: Local landscapes, Open categories
Criteria: Open to all
Cost: $2 approx.
Prize: Cash prizes
Allora Show (Art Section)
Organisation: Allora Show Society
Applications Open: December / January
Show Month: February
Subject: Fine Art & Photography
Criteria: Open to all
Cost: $2 approx.
Prize: Cash prizes
Warwick Show (Art Pavilion)
Organisation: Warwick Show & Rodeo Society
Applications Open: February
Show Month: March
Subject: Painting (Oil/Acrylic/Watercolour), Sculpture
Criteria: Open to all
Cost: $5 approx.
Prize: Cash prizes
Goombungee-Haden Show (Art Pavilion)
Organisation: Goombungee-Haden Show Society
Applications Open: February
Show Month: April
Subject: Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media
Criteria: Open to all
Cost: $2 approx.
Prize: Cash prizes
Roma Show (Art Section)
Organisation: Roma Show Society
Applications Open: Mid-April
Show Month: May
Subject: Open, Local/Regional, Contemporary, and several Junior sections.
Criteria:
- Open to all artists (with specific sections for residents of the Maranoa region).
- All work must be the original work of the exhibitor.
- Works must be framed or mounted ready for hanging.
Cost: $1.00 - $5.00 per entry
Prize: Cash prizes for 1st and 2nd place in each category, plus Champion and Reserve Champion of the section.
Local Regional Gallery Opportunities
Rosalie Gallery (Goombungee)
Organisation: Toowoomba Regional Council
Applications Open: August (for the following year)
Show Month: Various
Subject: Open (Fine art, Sculpture, Photography)
Criteria: Open to all; priorities given to regional/local emerging artists.
Cost: $156 approx.
Crows Nest Gallery
Organisation: Toowoomba Regional Council
Applications Open: August (for the following year)
Show Month: Various
Subject: Open (Fine art, Sculpture, Photography)
Criteria: Must be original work completed in the last 2 years.
Cost: $195 approx.
Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery (TRAG)
Organisation: Toowoomba Regional Council
Applications Open: Annual call (July-August)
Show Month: Various
Subject: High-calibre Contemporary / Fine Art
Cost: No Exhibition Hire Fee for curated community/regional exhibitions; 25% Commission on all sales.
Warwick Art Gallery
Organisation: Warwick Art Gallery Inc. (supported by Southern Downs Regional Council)
Applications Open: Annual call for EOIs (usually June/July for the following year)
Show Month: Various (6-8 week exhibition blocks)
Subject: Open – Contemporary, Traditional, and Community-focused
Criteria: Open to all artists; preference for Southern Downs regional significance
Cost: No venue hire fee for curated exhibitions. Commission of 30% applies to all sales.
Toogoolawah - The Condensery
Organisation: Somerset Regional Council
Applications Open: Annual call for EOIs (usually mid-year)
Show Month: Various
Subject: High-quality contemporary art, new media, and sculpture.
Criteria: Competitive selection; focus on living artists and contemporary practice.
Cost: No venue hire fee for curated program. Commission of 25-30% (verify on contract).
Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery (SRAG)
Organisation: Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery Inc.
Applications Open: Rolling proposals / Biennial Art Prize call-outs.
Show Month: Various
Subject: Fine art, Granite Belt regional themes, and national touring shows.
Criteria: Artists must submit a formal exhibition proposal for committee review.
Cost: No hire fee for selected community/curated shows. Commission of 33% (approx.) on sales.
Gatton - Lockyer Valley Art Gallery
Organisation: Lockyer Valley Regional Council
Applications Open: Rolling EOIs
Show Month: Various
Subject: Open
Criteria: Priorities given to Lockyer Valley regional artists and groups.
Cost: Hire fee may apply for community groups (approx. $100-$150 per month). Commission of 20% on sales.
Dalby Regional Gallery
Organisation: Western Downs Regional Council
Applications Open: Annual call for proposals
Show Month: Various
Subject: Contemporary and traditional fine art.
Criteria: Selection committee reviews all proposals annually.
Cost: No hire fee. Commission of 25% applies to sales.
National
Art Prizes, Art Shows & Art Exhibition Opportunities for Artists
Lethbridge Small Scale Art Award
Organisation: Lethbridge Gallery (Brisbane)
Applications Open: January
Show Month: June
Subject: Open – any 2D or 3D work under 61cm in any direction.
Criteria: Open to all National and International artists.
Cost: $45.00 per entry.
Prize: $20,000 Major Prize.
The Archibald Prize
Organisation: Art Gallery of New South Wales
Applications Open: February
Show Month: May – August
Subject: Portraiture of a person distinguished in Art, Letters, Science, or Politics.
Criteria: Open to all artists resident in Australia or NZ for at least 12 months. Must be painted from life (at least one live sitting).
Cost: $50.00 per entry.
Prize:
- $100,000 Winner.
- $3,000 Packing Room Prize.
- $5,000 ANZ People’s Choice.
- $1,000 Finalist Fee (paid to all selected artists).
Incognito Art Show
Organisation: Incognito Art Show (Sydney & Brisbane)
Applications Open: February-May
Show Month: June-July (Sydney). July (Brisbane)
Subject: Open. Artists are encouraged to create in their own style, provided it fits the required postcard size.
Criteria:
- Open to all artists regardless of age, experience, or skill level.
- Artworks must be created on the official Incognito A5-sized card (approx. 148mm x 210mm).
- The front of the work must remain anonymous (no signatures or identifying marks).
- Artists must sign and print their name on the back of the card only.
Cost: There is no cost to register as an artist or to submit your work.
Prize: There are no traditional cash prizes. The "prize" is the opportunity to have your work sold alongside high-profile artists, with 100% of the $100 sale price going to support arts charities.
The Wynne Prize 2026
Organisation: Art Gallery of New South Wales
Applications Open: February
Show Month: May – August
Subject: Best landscape painting of Australian scenery or best example of figure sculpture by Australian artists.
Criteria: Paintings: Landscape, seascape, or cityscape. Sculpture: Figure sculpture derived from a figurative source (human or animal).
Cost: $50.00 per entry.
Prize:
- $50,000 Winner.
- $5,000 Trustees’ Watercolour Prize.
- $1,000 John & Elizabeth Newnham Pring Memorial Prize.
- $1,000 Finalist Fee (paid to all selected artists).
The Sulman Prize 2026
Organisation: Art Gallery of New South Wales
Applications Open: February
Show Month: May – August
Subject: Best subject painting, genre painting, or mural project.
Criteria:Everyday life themes (still-life, interior, figure-in-landscape).
Cost: $50.00 per entry.
Prize:
- $40,000 Winner. (Judged by artist Del Kathryn Barton in 2026).
- $1,000 Finalist Fee (paid to all selected artists).
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