2026
finalists exhibited • 25 September – 5 October • Mechanics Insitute, Moruya
2026 ART PRIZE Results
The finalists for the 2026 River of Art Prize have been selected.
This year’s Prize attracted an outstanding field of entries from artists across the region and beyond, presenting our judges with the difficult task of selecting the works that will come together for the 2026 exhibition.
Congratulations to our finalists, and our sincere thanks to every artist who entered. We know what it means to put your work forward for consideration, and while not every work can be selected, every entry contributes to the strength and creative energy of the River of Art Prize. Just as importantly, your participation helps make River of Art possible – supporting a volunteer-led festival that creates opportunities for artists, brings audiences to our region and celebrates creativity across the Eurobodalla.
Whether or not your work was selected this year, you are part of River of Art, and we hope you’ll continue that connection with us in 2027 and beyond. All entrants are invited to the opening from 5pm Friday 25 September 2026.
If your work has been selected, please read the important information below carefully. You’ll find everything you need to know about, preparing and delivering your artwork, key dates and what happens next.
We look forward to bringing the selected works together for the River of Art Prize exhibition at the Mechanics Institute, Moruya, from 25 September – 5 October 2026.
2026 Finalist Works Selected:
| Dennis | Arnold | Ebb Tide |
| Lucy | Badman | The Splash (Set of 4) |
| Lucy | Badman | Natures Protest (Set of 5) |
| Rosalyn | Bannon | Banksia Morning |
| Allan | Baptist | Renewal |
| Sebastian | Barkoczy | Witness |
| Sharon | Beder | The Day the Muzak Died |
| Katherine | Boland | Mangrove Chronicles No. 4 |
| John | Bradley | Montegue Island from Carters Headland Narooma |
| Sevda | Cetin | Looking up |
| Jayden | Chan | After the Rain |
| Di | Clark | Off with her head |
| Susannah | Collins | Fungiform; fruiting body |
| Lucas | Collon | Autumn |
| Naomi | Crowther | Inlet Camp with Twenty Nine Ibis |
| Jas | Daly | Owl |
| Leah Ann | Early | Snowy River |
| Ann | Espinoza | Territories Series No 9 |
| Mirabel | FitzGerald | Forest with Parrots |
| Annie | Franklin | Museum box (Latham’s Snipe) |
| Ivana Gabrielle | Gattegno | Announcing the rain |
| Anne | Giunco | Les – Proud Wiradjuri Man |
| Alex | Gower | Guerrilla Gateway |
| Matthew | Hamilton | Mystery Bay |
| Eamon | Hamilton | Rumba |
| Eamon | Hamilton | Abstract 41 |
| Nick | Hopkins | Double Spiral Sea Shell |
| Trevor | Hyde | Still Point |
| Maree | Jackson | Tuross Bridge Sunset |
| Maree | Jackson | Southern Aurora Tuross River |
| Kerry | Johns | Tranquil Bay |
| Ayla | Junor | Portait of Kim Larsen |
| Sidney | Kelly | Bird Watching |
| Jenni | Knight | Ash Dancer Vase |
| Jenni | Knight | Roman Bowl with Moruya Granite and Bombo Basalt Rock Glaze |
| b0mber | Krellaxiom | Jetty Pylon |
| Charlie | Lee | Portrait |
| Frances | Luke | Mossy Point Wetlands 1 |
| Orlando | Luminere | Can you hear the stars speak |
| Susan | McAlister | Calypso Aves |
| Robyn | McDermott | Metamorphosis |
| Louise | McDonald | Continuum |
| Helen | Morris | The Language of Trees |
| Veronica | Murphy | Reflection |
| Deanna | Neville | On a cloud |
| Bessie | Nunes | Nectar |
| Geoffrey | Odgers | Tepee Tuross head |
| Grace | Paleg | Amber Autumn |
| Peter | Pickett | Frog Terror |
| Gabrielle | Powell | Botanical Bowl |
| Taryn | Powick | Tea to Roost |
| Juliet | Ramsay | Cool Natives |
| Angela | Ratten | No Two Waves |
| Lizette | Richards | Coastline (Barlings Beach) |
| Ehrin | Schmidt | Waratah and Eastern Spinebill |
| Patrick | Scott | CutStack Series |
| Helene | Sharpe | Ghost Forest-Bodalla |
| Stephanie | Simko | Beneath the Waves |
| Anna | Simpson | Wagonga inlet Narooma |
| Kerrie | Sims | In Isolation |
| Liz | Sinclair | The Drover |
| Catherine | Speed | Seasons |
| Alison | Spurgeon | Narooma house, after the morning swim |
| Sally | Stevens | She Who Inhereits The Sea |
| Christine | Sullivan | Chris |
| Shin-I (Juliet) | Tang | Edwardian Skippy |
| Kath | Unsworth | Habitat Haven |
| Hans | Van Haalen | Sentinel on the Munjip Trail |
| Jo | Victoria | Kintsugi Collection Boxes |
| Karen | Warburton | The Mechanics; it used to be an institution |
| Mark | Ward | Clown |
| Jane | Whiting | The Small Flock |
| Judith | Wilkins | Canopy of Light: Sylvan Sanctuary |
| Kitty | Witté | Three Sisters at Day’s Last Glow |
| Susan | Yaghjian | Tommy’s Shed |
I’m a finalist – next steps…
Venue
The 2026 River of Art Prize exhibition will be presented at the historic Moruya Mechanics Institute. 13 Page St, Moruya NSW 2537
PLEASE NOTE NO DELIVERY OF WORKS TO THE VENUE OUTSIDE OF THE STIPULATED TIME – this venue is not manned outside River of Arts advertised hours.
DELIVERY: Delivery prior to the advertised in-person delivery date is by prior arrangement only and must be confirmed in writing by River of Art. Please submit your request HERE
Key Dates 2026
- August 31 – All Entrants Notified of Judging Outcome
- September 23 – In Person Deliveries to Gallery 10-12pm
(note post/courier delivery by prior arrangement to nominated address – not gallery – see “Venue” information above) - September 25 – Exhibition closed for Judging 10-5pm
- September 25 – from 5pm Exhibition Opening Event & Winners announced
- September 26 – 5 October Exhibition open 10-4pm
- October 6 – Deinstall – Collect sold/unsold works 10-12pm
Note Art Prize Conditions linked below but in particular:
• All 2D works to arrive ready to hang installed with D rings attached
• Name of Artist & Work on back
• All 3D works with be installed on a plinth unless free standing.
• All wrapping – named (suitable to be reused on sale or pick up)
• Phone number must be supplied
• Please check your entry information and advise any change in writing ASAP • Information will be checked on delivery any changes must be made in writing
Download your Art Prize Finalist Tile
Remember not to publish your entry until after the launch and prize winner announcements on the 25th.
- Remember don’t promote your entry until after the Art Prize results have been announced on Friday 25 September 2025
- tag us in your socials #riverofart
- Please ensure the River of Art logo is used exactly as supplied. The logo must not be altered, recoloured, reshaped, cropped, stretched, overlaid with text or graphics, or otherwise modified.
HOST A SHIFT
Be Part of the Exhibition – Help Us Host the Art Prize
We’d love to invite our finalists to spend a little time hosting the River of Art Prize exhibition during its 10-day run. It’s a great opportunity to be part of the exhibition beyond having your work on the wall – meeting visitors, talking about the Prize and connecting with people who are genuinely interested in art and the artists behind it.
You don’t need any previous experience. A short training session and all the information you need will be provided, and the role is simple: welcome visitors, help them find their way around the exhibition, answer general questions and encourage voting in the People’s Choice Award. And of course, if visitors ask about your own work, you’ll be there to tell them about it firsthand!
We have two hosting shifts each day from Saturday 26 September to Monday 5 October inclusive:
Morning: 10am – 1pm
Afternoon: 1pm – 4pm
With 20 shifts to fill, even taking one shift makes a real difference. If you can join us for more than one, even better.
It’s also one of the nicest ways to experience the Prize – meeting the people who come through the doors, hearing their responses to the exhibition and being part of the conversations your work helps create.
Let us know when you’re available, and we’ll be in touch to find a shift that works for you.
prize pool
We are pleased to announce the 2026 River of Art Prize Pool,
distributed as follows, with the generous sponsorship of Mystery Bay Cottages and the Basil Sellers Exhibition Centre.
- FIRST PRIZE
$4,500 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 Voucher
Awarded by public vote to the artist of the most popular work exhibited in the Prize at the conclusion of the exhibition.
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
River of Art prize Donors and SUPPORTERS
The River of Art Festival wishes to thank our sponsors, donors and supporters.
The contribution is vital to continue the Festival and we cannot succeed without your generosity.
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.