Showcase your talent at the City of South Perth Emerging Artist Award 2025
Emerging and early-career artists are invited to step into the spotlight and present their work to the community with the exciting return of the City of South Perth’s Emerging Artist Award Exhibition and Arts Program.
Entries open 1 August for the annual Award, providing a valuable platform for up-and-coming creatives from secondary school to seniors to showcase their talent and kickstart their careers.
With a prize pool exceeding $15,000, the Award allows artists at the start of their career to gain exposure, connect with their peers and learn from experienced mentors.
Renowned Perth artist Andy Quilty, who took out the City’s top prize in 2011, credits the experience as a pivotal moment in his career.
“The win helped to build my confidence and really commit to my art practice. I also remember this one because my Year 10 high school teacher – who gave me a D – was an entrant that same year so that was kind of a sneaky little side win,” he said.
Quilty’s winning piece was a bold, crumpled drawing of his friend and one of the first hip-hop acts out of Perth, Matty B, created using ballpoint pen and spray paint.
Now a Lecturer in Fine Arts at the University of Western Australia, Quilty encourages young artists to seize the opportunity like he did.
“Art prizes can help boost confidence and lend financial support to the winners, but really what these local comps do is provide an opportunity for young people and emerging artists to get their work out there and start building a CV,” he said.
“I like that this prize is specifically for emerging artists, so it encourages new voices, and removes the same old artists, like me, from competing with younger and emerging artists who are keen and trying to get a start in their creative career,” he added.
The awards will be presented across 10 categories, with the overall winner receiving a $5,000 prize and the chance to host a solo exhibition at the prestigious Heritage House.
City of South Perth Mayor Greg Milner said the Award was a cornerstone of the City’s cultural calendar and continued to draw talent from across the State.
“The Emerging Artist Exhibition and Arts Program is one of the most prestigious local government art awards. Last year, we welcomed entries from as far away as Fitzroy Crossing,” he said.
“We are very proud to support the next generation of emerging artists young and old, who enrich our cultural landscape beyond measure.
“By providing talented individuals with a platform to showcase their work, we are investing in the future of our exciting art scene as well as providing them with a springboard to launch their careers.”
Entries close: 4pm, Friday 29 August 2025.
Emerging Artist Exhibition and Arts Program runs 10-18 October 2025.
For more information, visit our webpage southperth.wa.gov.au/emerging
Pictured: Andy Quilty. Photo by Bo Wong.
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Media contact
For media enquiries, please contact the City’s Communications Officer.
- Phone 9474 0777
- Email media@southperth.wa.gov.au
