Visual Arts
Nicole Macdonald & Narelle Browne
Art Competitions Open in 2024
Fantastical Sharks and Rays
Create an artistic masterpiece and it could end up in the Australian Museum! The most imaginative pieces will become the inspiration for 10 of Australia’s famous artists to create their own artwork.
Look through the descriptions of uniquely Australian sharks and rays on the shark champions website. Every animal has a description to help you imagine what it looks like. Turn your imagination into a work of art using any materials you like, including pencils, paint, crayons or collage. With the help of an adult, take a photo or scan your artwork and upload it to the online portal.
Entries close: 29 February 2024
More information: https://sharkchampions.org.au/fantastical-sharks-and-rays/
Young Archie Competition
The Young Archie competition invites budding Australian artists between the ages of 5 and 18 to submit a portrait.
There are four age categories: 5-8 year olds, 9-12 year olds, 13-15 year olds and 16-18 year olds.
As well as online, all finalists are displayed at the Art Gallery of NSW held in conjunction with the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes exhibition.
Entry forms will be available in February 2024 (date to be advised).
Entries close: 17 March 2024
More information: https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/art/prizes/young-archie/
Ellen José Student Reconciliation Awards 2024
Established in 2018, 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 art and writing.
Entrants are asked to interpret "As a young person, what does reconciliation mean to you?" in their artwork or writing piece.
- Artworks must be completed on a single A3 sized piece of paper with no additional pieces hanging beyond the edges
- Students currently attending a primary school within the Municipality of Bayside are eligible to enter
- Maximum of 1 entry per student
- Entries must be submitted with a jpg photograph/scan of the work via our online application form
Entry categories:
- Prep to Year 3
- Years 4 to 6
Entries close: Friday 19 April 2024
More information: https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/services/art-gallery-and-exhibitions/ellen-jose-student-reconciliation-awards-2024
Melbourne Royal Show - Art, Craft and Cookery Competition
The 2024 Preview is now available to view online at https://www.melbourneroyal.com.au/media/9797/2024-art-craft-cookery-junior-preview-schedule.pdf
Some of the junior categories available to enter this year are:
- Painting (Prep to Grade 2), (Grades 3 and 4), (Grades 5 and 6)
- Drawing (Prep to Grade 2), (Grades 3 and 4), (Grades 5 and 6)
- Print making (Prep to Grade 2), (Grades 3 and 4), (Grades 5 and 6)
- Collage (Prep to Grade 2), (Grades 3 and 4), (Grades 5 and 6)
- Digital Art (Grades 5 and 6)
- Sculpture and 3D Form (Prep to Grade 2), (Grades 3 and 4), (Grades 5 and 6)
- Photography (Prep to Grade 2), (Grades 3 and 4), (Grades 5 and 6)
- Ceramics (Prep to Grade 2), (Grades 3 and 4), (Grades 5 and 6)
- Drawing with Thread (Prep to Grade 2), (Grades 3 and 4), (Grades 5 and 6)
- Soft Toy (Grade 4), (Grades 5 and 6)
- Celebrating Agriculture Challenge - Painting (Prep to Grade 6)
- Celebrating Agriculture Challenge - Photography (Prep to Grade 6)
- Celebrating Agriculture Challenge - Ceramics (Prep to Grade 6)
- Celebrating Agriculture Challenge - Decorative Textiles (Prep to Grade 6)
- Re-purposed/Upcycle Challenge - Collage (Prep to Grade 6)
- Re-purposed/Upcycle Challenge - Sculpture/3D Form (Prep to Grade 6)
Entry is $8 per item.
Entries will close in August (date to be confirmed).
More information: https://www.melbourneroyal.com.au/art-craft-cookery/competition-info/schedules-and-forms/