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Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize 2026 is non-acquisitive.

1. How to enter

It is assumed the entrant has read and accepted the Terms and Conditions of Entry.

  • There is a limit of 2 entries per artist / designer (both entries are eligible for selection in the exhibition).
  • The same work cannot be entered into more than 1 category.
  • A separate entry form is required for each submission.

Entries may only be made online. Relevant fields and instructions will be given depending on which category and type of artwork is being entered.

Online payment of the entry fee must be received for the entry to be valid (note: payments will only be taken via the online payment system) at the time of entry. 

You will receive an email confirmation after successful submission.

The deadline for submissions is Monday 18 May 2026, 5pm (AEDT) . Late entries will not be accepted.

2. Categories & Prizes

Art

$20,000, open to artists / designers 19 years and older, includes but not limited to:

  • Ceramics & small sculpture (in any medium, including glass and waste to art)
  • Digital work, film (eg. film, video story and animation) 
  • Painting (including mixed media)
  • Works on paper (including drawing and printmaking)
  • Photography
  • Art-based interdisciplinary collaboration

Design

$20,000, open to artists / designers 19 years and older, includes but not limited to:

  • Functional design (eg architecture, urban design, a prototype of an object / product, furniture)
  • Wearable design (fashion and textiles)
  • Design-based interdisciplinary collaboration

Young artists & designers

$2,000 for the 13 – 18 years age category, and $1,000 for the 7 – 12 years age category for work in any medium listed above.

  • Ages 7 - 12 years
  • Ages 13 - 18 years

The age of the artist/designer is the age as of 18 May 2026.

People's Choice Awards

$1,000 for the one work in each category which receives the most votes

3. Eligibility

The Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize is open to all permanent Australian residents. All entries must be the original work of the submitting artist/designer and have been produced after 1 January 2025.

Employees of Northern Beaches Council are not permitted to enter the exhibition. Children of Northern Beaches Council employees are permitted to enter.

4. Entry Fees

  • Open category: $40 per submission
  • Young category (7 – 18 years):  $20 per submission

Payment must be made online, at the time of registration. Please retain your payment receipt details. Entry fee is non-refundable.

5. Dimensions and installation

Art category:

  • Total installed dimensions of wall-mounted works should not exceed H:200cm x W:150cm (including multiple pieces, if applicable).
  • Total installed dimensions of 3D works should not exceed H:200cm x W:200cm x L:200cm.
  • EADP can only provide standard gallery plinths H:90cm x W:50cm x D:50cm. Any other plinths must be supplied by the artist if specifically required.
  • Digital work, film and video – please upload your work (maximum length strictly 5 minutes) into your preferred digital platform (YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo etc) and provide the link. If you mark it private, please make sure you provide the password to allow viewing access. 

Design category:

  • Total installed dimensions of of wall-mounted works should not exceed H:200cm x W:150cm (including multiple pieces, if applicable).
  • Total installed dimensions of 3D works should not exceed H:200cm x W:200cm x L:200cm.
  • Wearable design – mannequins will need to be supplied by the artist / designer.

Extra notes:

  • All 2D framed/mounted work that are to be hung must have D-Ring devices attached 3cm or 4cm below the top edge at the back of the work and must not exceed a weight restriction of 20kg. Strings and cords must be removed from the backs of works.
  • The overall weight and dimensions must allow for easy transportation, and not exceed the carrying capacity of two average persons. Any selected works not deemed to be suitable for display will not be in the exhibition.
  • Artworks that have complex installation needs might have to be installed by the artist.
  • All electrical goods must be tested and tagged by an electrician.
  • Functional design may include but is not limited to objects, products, prototypes, architectural and urban design drawings, models, and furniture.

Northern Beaches Council reserves the right to reject unsuitably prepared works including wet, dangerous or delicate works.

6. Images and / or videos of artwork

The selection of work is based on the images supplied. Please ensure images are clear and true and of good quality.

All image files must be labelled as such; name, title, date, medium, dimension

The artwork images must comply with the following:

  • Minimum of 1 image and maximum 2 images of each artwork
  • Image file type must be either jpg, jpeg, png or gif with a maximum file size of 5 MB.
  • For digital and film work, you will be required to provide a link (including username and password if required) to the hosting platform.

The judges reserve the right to not award a prize should there be insufficient entries.

All artworks and images will be credited as 'Courtesy of the artist'.

7. Copyright

Copyright remains the property of the artist / designer. The artist / designer agrees, however, that supplied images of the work/s and/or photographs taken by Council of the work/s may be digitally reproduced for the following purposes:

  • Northern Beaches Council website for promotion of the exhibition and Prize
  • Northern Beaches social media channels
  • External media sources promoting the Prize through editorial or advertising
  • Promotional posters and flyers, reports and archives relating to the Prize.

Northern Beaches Council will credit the artist / designer (and photographer where stated) and maintain the integrity of the work (including minimal cropping or unnecessary text overlay).

8. Privacy

Personal details requested will be used for the purpose of processing registration, keeping records and establishing identity in accordance with Northern Beaches Council’s Privacy Management Plan (June 2000). Access to the information is restricted to Northern Beaches Council officers and other authorised people only. Consent must be given in the online entry form to enable submission. Read our Privacy Policy.

For young artists and designers, the guardian agrees to the following:

  • The child to participate in the competition
  • The organiser to use the child’s name / artwork / image publicly
  • Any prize money to be issued to the guardian on the child’s behalf.

9. Judging

Eligible entries will be assessed by a panel of qualified Council staff and the finalists for each category announced by Thursday 28 May 2026, 5pm.

A panel of independent judges will select the prize winners for each category in the exhibition. The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. All winners will be announced at the opening night awards presentation at Manly Art Gallery & Museum on Friday 7 August 2026, 6 – 8 pm.

10. Awards

Award categories are published on the Northern Beaches Council website northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au

All prizes will be awarded on the advice of the judges, except for People’s Choice Awards. The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. The People’s Choice Awards will be chosen by public vote throughout the exhibition period and announced on Friday 11 September 2026.

Exhibited artists / designers will receive an invitation to attend the opening night on Friday 7 August 2026. Award winners will be announced and presented with their prizes on the Opening Night.

The names of winners and the title of the artwork will be published on the Northern Beaches Council’s website following the announcement at the opening night awards.

11. Special events

Meet the Artists events will take place at the following times and venues:

#1 Creative Space, North Curl Curl, 105 Abbott Road, North Curl Curl
Saturday 22 August, 2-3pm

#2 Manly Art Gallery & Museum, West Esplanade, Manly
Saturday 5 September, 2-3pm

12. Labels and requirements for display of work

Each work must have an information label attached to the back of the work with:

  • the artist’s / designer’s name
  • the title of work

Each work must include the following information, packaged with the work to assist the exhibition installers:

  • clear installation instructions with your work (not only via email)
  • clear re-packing instructions with the art / design work for the bump-out

13. Delivery of work

Successful entrants will be advised where to deliver their work, either:

  • Manly Art Gallery & Museum, West Esplanade Reserve, Manly
  • Curl Curl Creative Space, 105 Abbott Road, North Curl Curl

Successful entrants will also be advised when to deliver their work, either:

  • Young Artists & Designers on Thursday 30 July, 8am – 11am to Curl Curl Creative Space.
  • Artists & Designers on Monday 3 August, 8am – 11am to Manly Art Gallery & Museum.

A family member or friend is permitted to deliver the work on the artist’s/designer's behalf.

If your work needs to be couriered, please contact the organiser directly. Selected interstate and regional artworks would need to arrive at Manly Art Gallery & Museum (West Esplanade Reserve, Manly  NSW 2095) by Monday 27 July 2026. Delivery and return is at the applicant’s expense.

The art / design work must include clear re-packing instructions for the bump-out.

Northern Beaches Council has the right to refuse or reject artworks if they feel any information included in the registration / entry process, including submitted images of work, was in any way misleading or an inaccurate representation of the work.

Northern Beaches Council’s decision is final and no subsequent discussion or correspondence will be permitted.

All artworks selected must remain on show for the duration of the exhibition. Generally, any packaging material from hand-delivered entries must be removed after delivery as there is limited storage on site.

14. Care and responsibility

Northern Beaches Council will exercise all reasonable care with the works submitted but will not be responsible for any loss, theft or damage while in its custody or in transit. Insurance is the responsibility of the exhibitor.

15. Sale of artworks

Exhibited artists may choose to sell their works. The price of your work at the time of entry will be published in the list of works.

Northern Beaches Council will conduct the sale of works, with a 30% commission applicable. Ensure that this is included in the supplied price of your artwork. Sales will be reconciled at the end of the exhibition period.

16. Collection of artworks

All artworks selected must remain on show for the duration of the exhibition.

Exhibited artists must be able to collect their work from the venue which is exhibiting their work, on Monday 21 September 2026 between 9am and 12pm.

A family member or friend is permitted to collect the work on the artist / designer’s behalf but must be able to show receipt of entry or the artists must have notified council staff.

Failure to collect work on time will incur a storage fee of $25 per day.