$25,000 on offer in the Fraser Coast National Art Prize

Artists across Australia are invited to showcase their talent for the Girra: Fraser Coast National Art Prize, with a major prize of $25,000 on offer.

Hervey Bay Regional Gallery Director Sarah Thomson said the competition provides an exciting opportunity for contemporary artists to present their work on a national stage and compete for a significant cash prize.

“A $25,000 prize can be a game-changer for an artist, providing vital support to develop new projects and sustain their studio practice,” she said.

“The winning artwork will become part of the art collection, while all finalists’ works will be exhibited at Hervey Bay Regional Gallery from 23 August to 16 November 2025.

“The finalists’ exhibition will form a compelling story of our nation’s relationship to the environment told through diverse perspectives and aesthetic approaches.

“Residents can have their say by voting for their favourite artwork in the Hervey Bay Boat Club People’s Choice Award, with the winner receiving a $2,000 cash prize.

Ms Thomson encouraged artists working in any visual medium—including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, installation, performance, and video to submit entries.

“The Girra: Fraser Coast National Art Prize is a biennial competition that draws artists from across Australia,” she said.

“In 2023, Western Australian artist Anna Louise Richardson took home the top prize for her stunning two-metre charcoal drawing on cement fibreboard, I Asked for a Sign (Wedge-Tailed Eagle).

“I look forward to seeing a diverse range of applications from emerging and established artists that are deeply thinking about the importance of storytelling and enduring narratives.

Girra was borne out of the enduring social and cultural importance of the natural environment in the Fraser Coast region, encompassing land, sea and sky, said Ms Thomson.

"The Butchulla people have long understood the deep, inextricable connection between people and place, and this exhibition invites artists to explore that relationship through contemporary art, reflecting on how we interact with and are shaped by the environment,” she said.

Entries for the prize open Monday April 7 and close Monday May 5.

Want to learn more about the entry process and get tips on writing your artist statement and bio?

Join the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery for a free information session on Saturday, April 5, from 11 am to 12 pm.

Register for the information session here:  https://hbrg.ourfrasercoast.com.au/events/event/1907/info-session-girra-fraser-coast-national-art-prize

For more details on the Girra: Fraser Coast National Art Prize, visit:   https://hbrg.ourfrasercoast.com.au/fraser-coast-national-art-prize-1