Emerging Artist Award

Entries have now closed for 2023
The Emerging Artist Award is an annual program providing a unique opportunity for young (from secondary school age up until 25 years) and older emerging (at the beginning of their professional creative careers) artists to exhibit their work in a public exhibition and to compete with peers for prizes.
The Emerging Artist Award is a selected exhibition – a panel of independent arts industry professionals select artists to be invited by the City to exhibit their artwork and compete for several awards.
Emerging Artist Exhibition
Selected artworks will be on display to the public Friday 6 October – Saturday 14 October 2023 at the South Perth Community Hall. The exhibition will be free to visitors and open 10am–4pm on Monday – Saturday and will be closed on Sundays.
Exhibition events
Events Listing
2023 Emerging Artist Award Exhibition
The City’s Emerging Artist Award 2023 Exhibition will be open to the public for viewing and sales from Friday 6 October – Saturday 14 October 2023 at the South Perth Community Hall.
Fine Line Botanical Workshop
This workshop has sold out.
Ceramic Keep Cup Painting
Create a hand painted keep cup in this two hour workshop, facilitated by Open Hands Creative & Little paint Co. Suitable for ages 10 + (all children must be accompanied by an adult).
Business Networking Sundowner
Local business owners and operators are invited to view the City's Emerging Artist Award exhibition, mingle with local artists and network at a free event on Thursday, 11 October.
Seniors Afternoon Tea
Enjoy an afternoon exploring the City's Emerging Artist Award Exhibition followed by a lovely afternoon tea. Suitable for seniors.
Postscript: Emerging Artists and Career Trajectories in the Arts Sector
As part of the City's Emerging Artist Award, the City will facilitate a public program of artist talks and panel discussion.
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.
2023 Judges
Gary Dufour
Gary Dufour is an art historian based in Mount Claremont and Adjunct Assoc. Professor, School of Design, University of Western Australia. Dufour is a specialist in international modern and contemporary art, and a recognised authority on artists such as Jeff Wall, Guido Molinari, Howard Taylor, and Max Pam. He is an approved valuer on post-1940 Australian and International Art by the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program register.
Ron Bradfield Jr
Ron Bradfield Jr is a saltwater man from Bardi Country in Broome who grew up in Nhanda Country, Geraldton and now lives in Whadjuk Boodjar (Perth). Having worked across the arts in regional and metropolitan Western Australia for over 15 years as an artist, storyteller and facilitator, Ron curates cultural conversations across all levels of our communities. Currently Ron is the CYO (Chief Yarning Officer) of Yarns R Us and the Community Engagement Coordinator- Carrolup Centre for Truth-telling, (John Curtin Gallery ) Curtin University.
Ross Potter
Ross Potter is a Kamilaroi man living and working full time as an Artist on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar, Walyalup/Fremantle. He works with graphite and paper to produce highly detailed, often large-scale representations of his subjects. One of his well-known works is the life-size sketch of Perth Zoo’s elephant Tricia for Fremantle Arts Centre’s Animaze: Amazing Animals for Kids Exhibition. Ross has won many art awards, most notably a finalist in The Lester Prize (BSPP) in 2015 and 2017 and winner of the Leonora Art Prize in 2019.
Curator
Ron Nyisztor
Ron Nyisztor was born in Fremantle and gained his Bachelor of Arts in Design at the WA Institute of Technology (now Curtin University) in 1979. An important contributor to the Western Australian art scene, Ron set up and runs Nyisztor Studio, an independent artist run space in Melville. Ron is a successful and widely collected and exhibited visual artist and has held many curatorial positions at leading galleries and institutions throughout his career.
Sponsors
The City recognises the support of all 2023 Emerging Artist Award Premium and Prize sponsors who have helped to support the growth and development of emerging artists in the City of South Perth. If you are a local business or organisation wanting to support the City's Emerging Artist Award, contact us to discuss your sponsorship opportunities.
Premium Sponsor
Prize Sponsors
Photos
Photos of Emerging Artist Award winners were published on the City's Flickr Gallery.
To request a copy of any of the award photos, please contact the City's events team on 9474 0777 or email events@southperth.wa.gov.au.