An art prize that was once a fixture of Willoughby’s cultural calendar is coming back after almost two decades — this time with a new name, a new home and a sharper focus on emerging artists.
The Willoughby Art Prize, established in 1983 and last held in 2007, has been revived as the Willoughby Emerging Art Prize. It returns with $15,000 in prize money and an exhibition at Art Space Gallery – The Concourse in Chatswood.
There is a neat local symmetry to its return. The original prize was paused during development of The Concourse. Nineteen years later, the arts precinct will host its comeback.
A $10,000 Prize — And a Place in Willoughby’s Collection
The major award is a $10,000 acquisitive prize, meaning the winning work will become part of Willoughby City Council’s collection.
The winner will also receive a solo exhibition opportunity at Art Space Gallery – The Concourse the following year, along with three curatorial and mentoring sessions with Council’s Visual Arts Team.
There is a $5,000 second prize, while the Civic Place Trust will select a Highly Commended recipient. The Trust is supporting the overall $15,000 prize pool.
Entries are open to Australian residents aged 18 and over who are between five and 15 years into their artistic practice. Entrants cannot currently have commercial gallery representation.
Artists can submit up to two original works completed within the past two years. Painting, drawing, sculpture, photography and printmaking are among the eligible mediums, although performance-based works are excluded.
Consuelo Cavaniglia and Monica Rani Rudhar have been named as judges.
Picking Up Where the Old Prize Left Off
The 19-year gap gives this year’s competition an unusually long history to pick up.
Artist records offer a glimpse of the old prize in its final year. Photographer Erez Ben-Or records winning the Photography and Digital Media category in 2007, while photographic artist Tina Fiveash was among the finalists.
Now a new generation will get its turn.
Entries close at 11.30pm on Sunday 30 August 2026, with finalists to be notified in September.
The opening night will be held at Art Space Gallery – The Concourse on Thursday 8 October, when the winners will be announced. The exhibition continues through to Sunday 1 November.
For a competition absent since 2007, its return is more than another addition to Willoughby’s spring arts calendar. It reconnects an established local prize with the generation of artists it now hopes to help along.
Published 20-Aug-2026
