Muswellbrook Art Prize
Since 1958, the Muswellbrook Art Prize has grown and evolved and is today one of the richest prizes for painting in regional Australia. Finalists for the Muswellbrook Art Prize vie for a total of $70,000 prize money across three prize categories: Painting ($50,000 acquisitive), Works on Paper ($10,000 acquisitive), and Ceramics ($10,000 acquisitive).
Astute adjudication of the Prize over the years has yielded an excellent collection of modern and contemporary Australian paintings, works on paper and ceramics from the Post War period of the 20th Century and into the 21st Century, with the winning acquisitive works forming the nucleus of what is now known as the Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection. Previous winners of the Muswellbrook Art Prize include such key figures as David Aspden, Sydney Ball, Richard Larter and Fred Williams. The Upper Hunter Region is also well represented with a number of local artists being successful in winning the Prize including Peter Atkins, Dale Frank, Lyn Nash and Hanna Kay.
Along with Muswellbrook Shire Council, who since 1958 has acted as sponsor and administrator of the Muswellbrook Art Prize, Bengalla Mining Company has generously sponsored the Prize for over 30 years, their commitment ensuring the development of the Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection.
Key Dates
- Entries Open – 3 November 2025
- Entries Close – midnight 6 February 2026
- Finalists Announced – 13 February 2026 | 2026 Gallery of Finalists
- Exhibition Launch Event and Announcement of Winners – 4pm 21 March 2026
- Exhibition Dates – 19 March – 23 May 2026
Margaret Loy Pula, Anatye – Bush Potato 2012, acrylic on Belgian linen, 149 x 152cm, Winner Muswellbrook Art Prize 2013, Painting, Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection.
Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize
The Australian Photographic Society’s Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize is a national $30,000 acquisitive prize that seeks to find Australia’s best conceptual photographic works. Finalists of the prize are exhibited annually at Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre with the prize-winning work joining the Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection, and a collection of contemporary photographic works acquired through the Muswellbrook Photographic Award (1987 – 2014). Means of work presentation are unrestricted, inviting photographers to illustrate the intent of their works through a myriad of mediums.
Key Dates
- Entries Open – 9 March 2026
- Entries Close – midnight 12 June 2026
- Finalists Announced – 26 June 2026
- Exhibition Launch Event and Announcement of Winners – 15 August 2026
- Exhibition Dates – 13 August – 10 October 2026
Sammy Hawker, Mount Gulaga 2021, 4×5 photographic negative processed with Kodak XTOL and ocean water collected from site, pigment ink printed on archival Hahnemühle photo rag 308gsm, 137.5 x 110cm, Winner Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize 2022, Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection.
