Emerging Artist Award calls for entries

Are you a young artist or an artist in the early stage of your career? The City of South Perth’s Emerging Artist Award is now open and calling for entries. 

With a prize pool of over $15,000, the annual award provides young and emerging artists with an exciting opportunity to exhibit their work to the wider community.

Awards are offered across 10 categories, the Open Award, the Karalee on Preston Local Theme Award, the Geoff Baker MLA City of South Perth Resident Award, the Preston St IGA Secondary School Artist Award, the Young Artist Award, the Works on Paper Award, the White Frame Painting Award, the Liquor Barons on Angelo 3D Sculpture/Textiles Award, the John Curtin Gallery First Nations Artists Award and the Soco Realty People’s Choice Award.

City of South Perth Mayor Greg Milner said the Emerging Artist Award was a highlight of the City of South Perth’s cultural calendar. 

“Now in its 21st year, the Emerging Artist Award continues to grow and establish its reputation as one of Perth’s most coveted local art awards,” Mayor Milner said.

“The Award is unique because it offers opportunities to artists in the early stages of their careers to showcase their work to the public. Not only that, the Award is open to artists working across a number of different disciplines.

“The high standard of work we see each year is testament to the talented local artists we have within our community.”

Entries close 4pm, Monday 4 September 2023. 

To enter, visit southperth.wa.gov.au/eaa.

The exhibition will be open to the public at the South Perth Community Hall from Friday 6 October – Saturday 14 October 2023 (closed on Sunday 8 October).

2023 Award Categories

City of South Perth – Open Award ($5,000) All artworks in the exhibition are considered for this award and it will be awarded to the most outstanding artwork.

The Karalee on Preston – Local Theme Award ($1,000) Any artwork depicting, in title or content, the City of South Perth’s natural or built environment, lifestyle, personalities and landmarks can be nominated for this award.

Geoff Baker MLA – City of South Perth Resident Award ($1,000) Artists living in the City of South Perth (South Perth, Kensington, Como, Manning, Salter Point, Karawara and Waterford) are eligible for this award.

Preston Street IGA – Secondary School Artist Award ($1,000) The Secondary School Artist Award is only open to students who are of secondary school age on 4 September 2023.

City of South Perth – Young Artist Award ($1,000) The Young Artist Award is open to artists who are aged between 18 and 25 years on 4 September 2023.

City of South Perth – Works on Paper Award ($1,000) Works on paper including prints, photography, drawings, collage and two-dimensional mixed media works on paper may be nominated for this award.

White Frame – Painting Award ($1,000) Painted works in oils, acrylics, watercolour, pastels and two-dimensional mixed media works on canvas or board may nominate for this award.

Liquor Barons on Angelo – Sculpture/Textiles Award ($1,000) All three-dimensional works and creative textile-based works may be nominated for this award.

John Curtin Gallery – First Nations Artist Award ($1,000) Works entered by artists identifying as First Nations Australians are eligible for this award. 

Soco Realty – People’s Choice Award ($750) All artworks in the exhibition will be considered for this award. The People’s Choice Award will be presented to the artwork that receives the most public votes during the exhibition. Voting will commence at the Awards Ceremony on Thursday 5 October 2023 and will conclude on Saturday 14 October 2023.

The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be announced via the City’s website and other channels after the exhibition. The People’s Choice winning artwork will be reproduced in large scale and pasted up in the undercroft carpark at Coles Supermarkets at Angelo Street, alongside previous winners.