This evening the winners of Australia’s first national environmental art and design prize of its kind were announced at Manly Art Gallery and Museum (MAG&M) kicking off the must-see exciting contemporary exhibition of the finalists across three galleries on the northern beaches.  

Now in its third year, winners across nine categories will share in a prize pool of $42,000 and were chosen from an incredible 600 entries from local, regional and national artists across Australia.

The non-acquisitive prize saw artists and designers be a part of conversations around the world’s most pivotal topics - the complexities of environmental challenges in the 21st century and innovative ideas for the future around the natural world, environmental regeneration and the circular economy in their works.  

This year’s winners are:

Ceramics and Small Sculpture: Shani Nottingham, Cowra, NSW

Film: Perdita Phillips, Fremantle, WA

Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Kandos School of Cultural Adaptation, Bulli, NSW

Painting and Mixed Media: Grace Kemarre Robinya, Alice Springs, NT

Works on Paper and Photography: Belinda Yee, Balmain, NSW

Wearable Design: Adelash Parsons, Surry Hills, NSW

Functional Design: Jack Stannard, Balgowlah, NSW

Young Artists and Designers (7-12 years): Joint Winners

Charles Whitehead North Curl Curl, NSW

Isabella Niu Roseville, NSW

Imogen Maddison Chatswood, NSW

Rafferty Stanley Fairlight, NSW

Young Artists and Designers (13-18 years): Joint Winners

Charlotte Yan North Narrabeen, NSW

Jasper Hartmann Coogee, NSW

Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said the Prize is an inclusive and diverse exhibition that celebrates the vibrancy of the arts and design community within and beyond the Northern Beaches to garner career development and visibility on this important topic.  

“Artists and designers are agents of change; often taking the lead in responding to environmental or societal challenges.

“The Environmental Art & Design Prize has brought together a dynamic community of artists, designers and audiences who care deeply about our future. Their works speak volumes not only about their creativity but the underlying reasons we created this national prize.

“Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Prize! What an incredible talent pool from around Australia we are able to showcase here on the Northern Beaches,” Ms Heins said.

Two highly experienced leading art and design curators judged the works including contemporary multi-disciplinary artist Caroline Rothwell and Australian industrial designer Adam Goodrum.

See the finalist artworks from Friday 4-27 August (Tue-Sun, 10am-5pm) at Manly Art Gallery and Museum, Curl Curl Creative Space and Mona Vale Creative Space Gallery. The exhibition entry is free.

In addition to the nine categories, a People’s Choice Award will be announced on Friday 25 August at 7pm at MAG&M.

View the winners art works and find out more information about the prize on our website.

Thank you to our Prize sponsors:  Colormaker Industries and Kimbriki and event sponsor Seadrift Distillery.

Media contact: For media enquiries please phone 0481 907 545 or email media@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au