Visual Arts
Please see the information below about two upcoming arts competitions:
Ellen José Student Reconciliation Awards 2026
Design your own sports guernsey that expresses what reconciliation means to you.
The Ellen José Student Reconciliation Awards are aimed at Bayside primary and secondary school students, bringing awareness of reconciliation to our young people who are the future of Australia, through the design of a sports guernsey. Entrants are asked to interpret "As a young person, what does reconciliation mean to you?" in their guernsey design.
Primary school students are invited to create a sports guernsey design, A3 size, interpreting "As a young person, what does reconciliation mean to you?" The template is available on the website listed below.
Primary school entry categories:
Category 1: Prep to Year 3. First prize = $250, second prize = $150, third prize = $100
Category 2: Years 4 to 6. First prize = $250, second prize = $150, third prize = $100
Entries close: Thursday 30 April 2026, 5pm
The exhibition of 20 finalist pieces will be held from 21 May to 24 July 2026 at Bayside City Council Corporate Centre, 76 Royal Ave, Sandringham VIC 3191
Winners will be announced at a celebration event to be advised.
More information: https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/EJSRA2026
Young Archies
The Art Gallery of New South Wales invites budding artists between the ages of 5 and 18 to submit a portrait for the Young Archie competition.
The portrait must be of a person who is special to you – someone who is known to you and who knows you and plays a significant role in your life.
It is preferred that the portrait is ‘painted from life’ and that your subject sits for their portrait, like with the Archibald Prize. You may also create the portrait from memory or take your own photograph to use for reference.
There are four age categories:
- 5–8 year category: born 3 March 2017 to 2 March 2021
- 9–12 year category: born 3 March 2013 to 2 March 2017
- 13–15 year category: born 3 March 2010 to 2 March 2013
- 16–18 year category: born 3 March 2007 to 2 March 2010
The artwork:
- One artwork only per entrant.
- Must be on paper (NOT board).
- Must be unmounted and unframed.
- Must be no smaller than A4 (210 × 297 mm) and no bigger than A3 (420 × 297 mm).
- Can be vertical or horizontal.
- Any art materials or combination of art materials may be used (e.g. paint, pencil, pastels, paper collage) but the artwork must be two-dimensional.
- Digital artworks not accepted.
Entries must be posted to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and received before 2 March 2026, 5pm.