The City of South Perth Emerging Artist Award (‘the Award’) offers a unique platform that can elevate your art practice and unlock professional opportunities.
You must be a resident of Western Australia at the time of submitting your entry form. If you are under 18 years of age, you must obtain parental/guardian permission to enter.
Eligibility – standard entry
You are automatically eligible for entry in the Award if one of the following statements applies to you:
- You are at least of secondary school age and no older than 25 years of age on the date entries close for the Award.
- You are currently enrolled in a recognised tertiary qualification[1] in visual or fine arts.
- You have completed a recognised tertiary qualification[2] in visual or fine arts within the last five years.
- You can demonstrate that you are in the first five years of professional art practice.
If you cannot meet one of the automatic eligibility requirements, you may still be eligible to enter the Award.
Eligibility – alternative entry
Alternatively, you will be deemed[3] eligible for entry if, at the date entries close for the Award, all of the following statements apply to you:
- You have not had a significant exhibition of your work in a commercial[4] or public gallery[5] where the space has not been rented by the artist;
- You have not received, or been selected to receive, a significant award, grant (including residency) or commission for your artwork or art practice.[6]
- Your work has not been acquired by a public, institutional, corporate or significant private collection (for example, the collections of government organisations, museums, art galleries, hospitals, universities, churches, and large corporations or private collections with an established public profile); and
- You do not earn 50 per cent or more of your income from the sale of artworks, or on the basis of your recognised expertise as an artist.[7]
Collaboration
Where an artwork is created as a collaboration between two or more artists, all contributors must meet the eligibility requirements. All contributors must be identified and acknowledged in the entry submission.
Notes
[1] Recognised by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (Cth).
[2] Ibid.
[3] Where required, the City will determine entrant eligibility with reference to reliable, publicly available information and the information supplied on the Entry Form and provided CV/artist profile. All decisions in respect of entrant eligibility are final and made at the sole discretion of the City of South Perth.
[4] A physical or online business that represents and sells the work of artists as their primary business.
[5] A gallery or museum, whether privately or publicly owned, that holds public exhibitions of artworks, but is not primarily in the business of selling art.
[6] Excluding those specifically for students or young and emerging artists.
[7] For example, as an academic, teacher, workshop facilitator, or similar.
Emerging Artist Award has a prize pool over $15,000.
Emerging Artist Award $5,000 | City of South Perth
City of South Perth major prize award for the most outstanding Artwork.
The winner also receives an Exhibition Opportunity at Heritage House in 2025, courtesy of South Perth Historical Society
Open to all Artists.
Local Theme Award $1,000 | Sponsored by Karalee on Preston
Open to Artists whose Artwork depicts the City of South Perth environment, lifestyle, personalities or landmarks.
Resident Award $1,000 | Sponsored by Geoff Baker MLA
Open to Artists who live in the City of South Perth.
Secondary School Artist Award $1,000 | Sponsored by Preston Street IGA
Open to Artists aged 12 to 17 years of age when entries close.
Young Artist Award $1,000 | Sponsored by Village Green
Open to Artists between 18 and 25 years of age when entries close.
First Nations Artist Award $1,000 | Sponsored by John Curtin Gallery
Open to First Nations Artists.
Painting Award $1,000
| Sponsored by White Frame
Open to Artists whose Artwork is painted in oils, acrylics, watercolour, pastels and two-dimensional (2D) mixed media works on canvas or board.
Sculpture/Textiles Award $1,000
| Sponsored by Liquor Barons on Angelo
Open to Artists whose Artwork is three-dimensional (3D) or creative textile-based.
Works on Paper Award $1,000
| City of South Perth
Open to Artists whose Artwork includes prints, photography, drawings, collage and two-dimensional (2D) mixed-media works on paper.
People’s Choice Award $750 | Sponsored by SOCO Realty
Awarded to the Artist whose Artwork receives the most public votes during the Exhibition.
How much does it cost to enter the Emerging Artist Award?
There is no cost to submit an entry for the City of South Perth Emerging Artist Award. However, if your work is selected as a finalist you will need to pay a non-refundable Exhibition Fee of $30 for general entrants, or $20 for entrants in the Secondary School Artist or Young Artist categories. For finalists, this fee is payable within 7 days from when we send your notice of finalist status.
How many artworks are selected as finalists for the exhibition?
The number of finalists changes yearly, but we typically select between 60 and 80 works to exhibit. The judges select the number of works based on their relative quality as well as practical considerations with respect to the size of the exhibition venue and individual works.
What does blind judging mean?
Blind judging is a process where the judges are unaware of the identity of the artist. For the Emerging Artist Award, the artist’s name is withheld from the selection and final judging process. This helps to ensure that all works are selected on their merits.
What does acquisitive mean?
An acquisitive award means that winning entries become the property of the organisers of the exhibition or award. None of the Emerging Artist Award categories are acquisitive.
Are any of the emerging artist award categories acquisitive?
No. The City does not acquire (purchase) any of the winning artworks as part of the respective prize, nor do any of the prize sponsors. However, the City may choose to make an offer to purchase artworks for its Art Collection.
Can visitors purchase artworks from the exhibition?
Yes. Visitors may purchase artworks from the sales desk at the exhibition. The City accepts payments using EFTPOS. Sold artworks must remain on display for the entire exhibition period and are available for collection by the purchaser between 9am–5pm, the Monday after the Emerging Artist Exhibition closes.
How do I receive payment from the City for my sold artwork?
To receive payment from the City for the sale of their artwork, you must submit an invoice to the City for the sale price, less 25 per cent commission, and indicate GST on the invoice if you are registered. You will need to supply the City with your bank account details so a transfer of payment can be made.
Can I have my artwork entered in other prizes, or listed for sale elsewhere, while entered in the Emerging Artist Award?
No. It is a condition of entry that artworks must be exclusively available to purchasers who visit City of South Perth Emerging Artist Exhibition. All entries in the Emerging Artist Award must be committed to show their works in the Exhibition for the full period from entry submission until the close of the exhibition and must be available for purchase during that period. If we find that you have entered works that are listed for sale elsewhere, your entry may be disqualified. Works will not be released for early removal/collection from the Exhibition for any reason.
Can i choose to make my work ‘Not for Sale’?
Entrants in the Secondary School or Young Artist Award categories may choose to list their work as ‘Not for Sale’ for the exhibition to ensure that it won’t be sold.
All other works must be exclusively available to purchasers visiting the City’s exhibition.
