FINALISTS EXHIBITED • 25 September – 5 October • Mechanics Insitute, Moruya
New – simplified entry form
NO FILE RENAMING
NO RESIZING*
Conditions of Entry
Eligibility
- Entry is open to all artists and makers across Australia.
- Work must be the original, unassisted work of the entrant.
- All work must have been completed within one year of the exhibition opening in September each year.
- Note conflicts of interest under ‘Additional Information’.
Entry Fees and Sales
- A non-refundable entry fee of $50.00 (including GST) per artwork is payable upon submission.
- Up to two artworks per Artist may be submitted.
- Artworks may be for sale. A 20% commission will be retained by River of Art on any sales.
(for example: if you sell your work for $500 we will charge a 20% or $100 commission and pay you $400 for the sale of your work. You would nominate a catalogue sale price of $500 in this example on your entry form.) - Artists must advise if they are registered for GST (via the entry form). River of Art will issue a statement for any Artists sales during the exhibition, within two weeks of the closing of the exhibition.
Artwork Specifications
- 2D works should not exceed 110cm wide × 160cm high, including the frame in line with the closest common professional canvas size of 101.6 cm × 152.4 cm (40 × 60 inches).
- 3D works can be up to 1.5 metres wide or deep x 2 metres high, and must not exceed 15 kg in weight.
- Artworks that fall outside these specifications may be accepted or excluded at the sole discretion of River of Art, enquire here.
- 2D works must be delivered ready to hang with D-rings securely attached.
- 3D works must be free-standing or suitable for display on a plinth or similar.
- Labelling: Artist name and title on the back/underside
- Any work requiring special installation must be discussed with the organisers prior to delivery and specific installation instructions provided in writing at the time of delivery.
Image Submission – 1st round of judging is done via your submitted image. Top Tip: rename/resize your images before starting your application
- A maximum of two digital images may be submitted per artwork: one full view and one optional detail or close-up.
- Images must be high resolution
- Minimum 1920 pixels on the longest edge.
- Accepted formats are JPG, JPEG or PNG.
- Maximum file size per image is 8MB
- The first stage of judging (finalist selection) is conducted as a blind assessment. To preserve the integrity of this process, submitted digital images must not contain any identifying information.
Artwork may be signed; however, any visible signature, watermark or identifying mark must be concealed for the purpose of photographing the work for Stage 1. The artist’s name or any other identifying information must also not appear in the image file name.*
Please contact us if you require assistance. - Images should be tightly cropped, with no background, frame, or surrounding context visible.
- File naming format *now automated* from form submission details.
Title_Medium_Wcm x Hcm.jpeg
example: BlueStillLife_Oil_W60cmxH80cm.jpeg
– Resize or Rename your images with Adobe free online if outside of the min & max file size stated here
Judging and Exhibition
- All Finalists will be selected by the judging panel from the submitted digital images.
- All Finalists will be invited to exhibit.
- Prize winners will be announced from the physical works once installed on opening night.
- Selected works must be available for the full duration of the exhibition.
- Finalist works must be delivered and collected on the dates specified. Unsold works must be collected promptly after the exhibition.
- Finalist works will be presented by River of Art for the duration of the Festival.
- All finalist works will be featured in an online exhibition on the River of Art website, using the images provided by the artist.
- Artists are encouraged to support the exhibition by volunteering time to invigilate during the Festival period. This helps ensure a welcoming and informed experience for visitors, and provides a valuable opportunity to connect directly with the audience, share insights about the work, and engage with the broader arts community.
Delivery and Collection
- Sold works may only be collected by purchasers at the conclusion of the exhibition.
- River of Art accepts no responsibility for works not collected after the display period.
Additional Information
- All applications must be completed and submitted via the online form.
- Judging decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into.
- Artists from within the Festival’s South Coast region (Durras to Bermagui and Cobargo) are invited to register or update a listing in the River of Art Directory.*
- River of Art reserves the right to amend dates, venues, judges, prizes, exhibition arrangements or other aspects of the Prize where circumstances beyond its reasonable control make this necessary. Any significant changes will be published on the River of Art website and communicated to entrants where appropriate.
- By entering the Prize, entrants consent to receiving River of Art newsletters and related communications. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Additional awards, prizes, opportunities or benefits offered as part of the River of Art Prize may be subject to separate eligibility requirements, terms and conditions. By entering the River of Art Prize, entrants acknowledge and agree to any applicable terms and conditions associated with such awards or prizes.
Conflict of Interest & ineligible entrants:
Current members of the River of Art Committee, members of the River of Art Prize Selection Panel, appointed judges, and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter the River of Art Prize. Immediate family members include spouses, partners, parents, children and siblings. General festival volunteers who are not involved in the judging, selection or administration of the Prize remain eligible to enter. River of Art is committed to maintaining a fair, transparent and impartial judging process. All judges, selection panel members, committee members and any other person involved in the administration of the Prize must declare any actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest as soon as it becomes known. Where a conflict of interest is identified, River of Art reserves the right to implement appropriate measures to manage the conflict, including requiring the individual to abstain from discussions, assessment, decision-making or other involvement relating to the affected entry or entrant.
All applications must be completed and submitted via the online form once submissions open.
A non-refundable entry fee of $50.00 (including GST) per artwork is payable at the time of submission.
To be eligible, both entry and payment must be received by River of Art before the advertised deadline.
The total prize pool is over $12,00.00
- FIRST PRIZE
$4500 cash – PLUS
The Basil Sellars Exhibition Centre proudly offers the winning artist a supported solo exhibition at the Mechanics Institute in 2026. This offer includes 2 week venue hire (Sept 2027) plus installation time, promotion through the BAS website and social channels, access to equipment and resources at the Mechanics Institute and a $550 stipend for exhibition expenses. - SECOND PRIZE
$2,500 cash - MYSTERY BAY COTTAGES AWARD
$2,000 cash
In honour of Darlien de Berigny Babington
Awarded to an artist whose work offers a compelling reflection on the natural world and our relationship with it. - NAROOMA ARTS CENTRE EARLY CAREER AWARD
Open to entrants who are 19 years of age or older and 30 years of age or under in the year of the prize. The award includes a supported exhibition at the Narooma Arts Centre in 2027. Subject to the NAC Exhibition Agreement it includes 2 week venue hire, promotion via website and socials and $250 towards an official exhibition opening. The Artist is not eligible for the same award for 3 years. - HIGHLY COMMENDED
$500 cash - FRAMING PIECES PEOPLES CHOICE PRIZE
$150 VoucherAwarded by public vote to the artist of the most popular work exhibited in the Prize at the conclusion of the exhibition.
By submitting your entry, you agree to the Conditions of Entry above.
KEY DATES 2026
- June – Call for Entries
- August 9 – Entries Close
- August 31 – All Entrants Notified of Judging Outcome (Finalists Advised)
- September 23 – In Person Deliveries to Gallery 10-12pm
(note post/courier delivery by prior arrangement to nominated address – not gallery) - September 25 – Exhibition Opening Event & Winners announced – from 5pm
- September 26 – 5 October Exhibition open 10-4pm
- October 6 – Deinstall – Collect unsold works 10-12pm
JUDGES
We extend our sincere thanks to our 2026 River of Art Prize judges for accepting this important role. Their experience, insight and independent perspectives are central to the integrity of the Prize, from selecting the finalists to recognising this year’s outstanding works. We greatly appreciate the time, care and consideration they bring to the judging process.
Hannah Semler
Passionate about supporting arts culture and the environment, Hannah is an Arts and Cultural Development manager with over 40 years experience across many creative artforms and practices in urban and regional communities.
Hannah has curated exhibitions in a number of community and public spaces, coordinated outdoor installations and events, and provided support and mentorship to emerging artists while managing Arts OutWest, the regional arts organisation for central west NSW. In this position she also participated in creating the first Regional Creative Arts and Tourism Strategy for the Central West. In Canberra, she was founding director of Belconnen Arts Centre for the first 4 years coordinating the development of public programs and selecting exhibitions. As Visitor Services and Events Manager at the National Arboretum Canberra in its first 5 years of opening, Hannah coordinated public programs including exhibitions, festivals and events.
Hannah’s creative arts practice is currently focussed on textiles and the environment, now residing in her new home on the South Coast of NSW.
Hannah holds a BA Interior Design and a Grad. Dip in Arts Management, both from UTS.
NANCY SEVER
From 1993 to 2012 Nancy Sever was Director of the Australian National University’s Drill Hall Gallery and Director of the ANU Art Collection. In 2010 she was the recipient of the ANU Chancellor’s Annual Award for outstanding service to the ANU campus community.
From 2014-2024 she was director of the Nancy Sever Gallery at City Walk and since 2025 she continues to run the gallery online. She currently serves as Director of Linguaset Translations, a well-established language services provider with a distinguished track record of delivering translation and interpreting services to government and commercial clients.
Born in Peru, she became an Australian citizen after her marriage to Adrian Sever in 1975. She is a graduate in Latin American Studies from La Sorbonne, Paris, and in Art History and Curatorship from the ANU. She was Cultural Affairs Officer at the Australian Embassy in Paris for several years while her husband was on a diplomatic posting there.
The high esteem in which she is held within the visual arts community, both locally and internationally, was formally recognised in 2007 when the French Government awarded her a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for services to art both in France and Australia.
Questions?
For further information, please email artprize@riverofart.com.au
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View PAST Finalists and Winners
with thanks to our RIVER OF ART PRIZE SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS
Mystery Bay Cottages – Our recommended accommodation partner, where coastal calm and creativity meet. Beyond offering a beautiful place to stay, Mystery Bay Cottages have been generous and consistent supporters of the arts and our local community. Their ongoing support of River of Art reflects a shared belief that culture, creativity and place are deeply connected. Partnerships with local businesses like this are vital to the sustainability of a volunteer-run festival. Their generosity helps ensure that artists, audiences and visitors can continue to gather, experience and celebrate the creative spirit of the South Coast.
The Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre proudly supports the River of Art Prize, offering the winning artist the opportunity to present a supported solo exhibition at the Mechanics Institute in 2027. This significant professional opportunity provides the artist with a dedicated platform to further develop and present their work to regional audiences, extending the impact of the prize and strengthening connections between artists and the wider South Coast arts community.
The Narooma Arts Centre (NAC) is a dynamic hub dedicated to creative collaboration, innovation, community engagement and celebration of arts and culture.
With more than two decades of experience, Framing Pieces South Coast Framing & Art Supplies is a trusted destination for custom framing and fine art materials, supporting artists, photographers and makers across the region.