New Community Art Prize to celebrate and showcase creative talent
Published on 03 September 2026
A new Surf Coast Shire Community Art Prize is set to celebrate, showcase and inspire creative talents across the municipality.
The Community Art Prize will offer a total of $3,600 in prizemoney across four categories, and all eligible works will be part of a community exhibition at Anglesea Art Space.
Each will be assessed by an independent panel of judges from outside the shire before naming of recipients of:
- The Community Art Prize, $1,500
- Emerging Artist Award, $800
- First Nations Creative Award, $800
During the exhibition community members will be able to cast votes in a People’s Choice Award, with a $500 prize going to the winning artist.
Submissions for the Community Art Prize are open to shire residents, ratepayers and tenants and close on 28 September.
Artists can submit one work, in any medium, which must have been created during the past two years.
People can find more information, including the terms and conditions, and enter via surfcoast.vic.gov.au/ArtPrize26
Cr Phoebe Crockett: “We look forward to the Surf Coast Shire Community Art Prize providing valuable opportunity for artists across the shire to not only be in the running for a fabulous prize, but importantly to have their work exhibited, recognised and celebrated.
“It aims to encourage participation, showcase the epic creative talent we have across our shire and connect the community through the public exhibition.
“We invite emerging artists to be brave and get their work out there, and we hope that winners are able to use the prize money to invest back into their creative practices and passions.”
The Surf Coast Community Art Prize Exhibition will run at Anglesea Art House from 8 to 25 October, and artists and community members well be welcome to attend the official opening on 9 October, to witness naming of Community Art Prize, Emerging Artist and First Nations Creative prize recipients.
People can vote in-person at the Art Space for their favourite work in the People’s Choice Award between 8 October and 4pm on 25 October.