Highest value art prize for women in Australia

The Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize is an annual prize and exhibition conducted by Ravenswood School for Girls that aims to inspire, promote and connect generations of Australian women artists.

Entries for the 2025 Art Prize will open in November 2024.


There are three prize categories and in each category the artworks must best reflect the intentions of your art practice.

Professional Artist Prize - $35,000 (acquisitive)
Emerging Artist Prize - $5,000 (acquisitive)
Indigenous Emerging Artist Prize - $5,000 (acquisitive)
People’s Choice Award - $2,000 plus a $500 art pack

 

Key Dates

  • Opening Night 10 May 2024
  • Exhibition 11 – 26 May 2024


TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Exhibition of Finalists 11-26 May 2024 (Thursdays to Sundays) free entry. Location: Ravenswood School for Girls, Centenary Centre, 10 Henry Street, Gordon, NSW

Thursday and Friday 10.00am to 3.00pm
Saturday and Sunday 10.00am to 4.00pm
Closing at 1.00pm on last day, Sunday 26 May


Artwork Sales

Artwork will be available for sale at the Opening Night and during the Exhibition and may also be purchased via an online sales platform.



Prize Categories

Professional Artist Prize (acquisitive)

  • Prize Value $35,000
  • Open to women artists resident in Australia during the twelve months preceding the closing date for entries, over 18 years as at 1 February 2024 who identify as professional artists. 
  • This is an acquisitive prize, requiring the winner to donate the artwork to Ravenswood School for Girls.
  • In addition to the cash prize, the winner will be invited to give an artist talk and/or practical workshop to a selected Year group of Ravenswood Students within six months of the prize.
  • Entries must be available for sale at the exhibition of finalists (10 to 26 May 2024).

Emerging Artist Prize (acquisitive)

  • Prize Value: $5,000
  • Open to women artists resident in Australia during the twelve months preceding the closing date for entries, over 18 years as at 1 February 2024 and who are in the early stages of an art career.
  • This is an acquisitive prize, requiring the winner to give their wining artwork to Ravenswood School for Girls.
  • In addition to the cash prize, the winner will be invited to give an artist talk and/or practical workshop to a selected Year group of Ravenswood Students within six months of the prize.
  • Entries must be available for sale at the exhibition of finalists (10 to 26 May 2024).

Indigenous Emerging Artist Prize (acquisitive)

  • Prize Value: $5,000
  • Open to women artists of Indigenous/Torres Strait Islander descent, who identify as Indigenous/Torres Strait Islander, are accepted as an Indigenous / Torres Strait Islander by an Indigenous / Torres Strait Islander community (notify name of the community) and resident in Australia during the twelve months preceding the closing date for entries, and are over 18 years as at 1 February 2024 and who identify as an emerging artist.
  • This is an acquisitive prize, requiring the winner to give their winning artwork to Ravenswood School for Girls.
  • In addition to the cash prize, the winner will be invited to give an artist talk and/or practical workshop to a selected Year group of Ravenswood Students within six months of the prize.
  • Entries must be available for sale at the exhibition of finalists (10 to 26 May 2024).

ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED



Entry Checklist

You may edit your entry as many times as required up until the Close of Entries at 12:00 pm (midday) Daylight Saving Time Eastern Australia on 14 February 2024. Please make note of your Entry ID (which is different to your registration number)

Please ensure you have the following documents and information that are required for entry:

  • Artist’s Statement (maximum 100 words) as a word document or pdf
  • CV / career background as a word document or pdf
  • 1 image of artwork entered (maximum of 3 images) as a jpeg, file named with artist name and artwork. Jpeg must NOT exceed 2MB.
  • Video entries: you will need to provide a link to your video entry (eg, YouTube, Dropbox, Vimeo)
  • Sale price of artwork: your artwork must be for sale, please list the sale price on your entry form

FAQ

Do I need to be an Australian to enter the Art Prize?

The Art Prize is open to all women who are Australian Citizens, Permanent Residents or who have resided in Australia during the twelve months preceding the closing date for entries.

What if my artwork is outside the dimensions stated in the Terms and Conditions?

Artworks should not exceed 20kgs in weight or 2 x 2metres excluding frame. Videos must not exceed 10 minutes duration. (4k monitors are provided. Video entries may be presented on a loop with other artist's works.)

What age restrictions are there?

All entrants must be 18 years or over as at 1 February 2024.

Which category should I apply for, Emerging, Indigenous Emerging Artist or Professional Artist?

 An Emerging Artist is in the process of establishing a professional practice to this end and has exhibited artwork and has created a modest independent body of work. An Emerging Artist may have had artwork accepted into competitions and has been establishing an art practice for five years or more. An Emerging Artist is not yet formally represented by a major commercial gallery. An emerging Artist may have a specialist credentials from Visual Art and Design courses like university or college. These details will be evident in your CV.

An Indigenous Emerging Artist is in the process of establishing a professional practice to this end and has exhibited artwork. An Indigenous Emerging Artist may have had artwork and has created a modest independent body of work. An Indigenous Emerging Artist may have had artwork accepted into competitions and has been establishing an art practice for five years or more. An Indigenous Emerging Artist may have specialist credentials from Visual Art and Design courses like university or college. These details will be evident in your CV.

 A Professional Artist will be established in the art world and has created an independent body of work over a number of years. A Professional Artist may have specialist credentials from Visual Art and Design courses like a university or college. A Professional Artist will have an ABN and will have a combination of:

  • artworks held in collections;
  • be represented by a gallery or agent;
  • have granted significant contracts or commissions; and
  • have significant bodies of work that are known to and in the art world.

These details will be evident in your CV.

How do I know if my application has been successfully submitted?

You will receive a confirmation email once your submission has been placed.

How do I make a payment for my entry?

Payment is made during the application process.

I am an emerging artist, in regional Australia and I cannot afford the $30 application fee. Is there any support available?

Yes, we understand that it can be expensive to enter prizes. Ravenswood is happy for you to submit an email outlining your hardship with a copy of your artwork and CV. Special consideration will be given to waive the entry fee.

Can I submit more than one image of my artwork?

Yes, you should choose the best 3 images to show different angles of your artwork, if required to submit online with your application.

Can I enter all categories?

No, you can only enter one category.

Can I enter more than once in a particular category?

No, only one artist name for each profile registered. Studios and galleries to contact the Art Prize for multiple artist entries.

Does my artwork need to be available for purchase?

Yes, all works must be for sale.

Can I register other artists on my profile?

No, only one artist name for each profile registered. Studios and galleries to contact the Art Prize for multiple artist entries.

Is photography permitted as a medium?

Yes, all mediums including photography are welcome.

Can my agent enter on my behalf?

Yes, if an artist is contracted to a gallery, the commission will be 50% and split 50-50 ( 20% to Ravenswood and 30% to the Gallery) should your artwork be sold.

If I am selected as a finalist, how do I get my artwork to the exhibition?

Congratulations for making the final selection! It is your responsibility to ensure that your work is delivered to the appropriate delivery address by the dates specified and any costs associated with this are payable by the artists.

Delivery of Finalist’s artworks:

  • Courier delivery from Tuesday 9 April to Friday 26 April 2024 8:00am to 2:00pm (Tuesdays and Thursdays) to Knightmoves, Unit 1, 12 Pembury Road, Minto, NSW, 2566. Art courier will deliver these artworks to Ravenswood on Monday 29 April 2024.
  • Personal delivery on Saturday 27 April 2024 10.00am to 1.00pm and Monday 29 April 2024: 10.00am to 2.00pm to Ravenswood School for Girls, Gate 3, Henry Street, Gordon

How will I know if I am a finalist?  

You will be notified by email on 26 March 2024 and a list of finalists will be published on the website.

I would like to come to the Opening Night, how do I arrange a ticket?

Opening Night 10 May 2024 - Tickets will be available to purchase in 2024

Exhibition of Finalists 11-26 May 2024 (Thursdays to Sundays) free entry 

Centenary Centre, Ravenswood School for Girls 
10 Henry Street, Gordon, NSW

All finalists will be given one complimentary ticket for the Opening Night. You may also purchase additional tickets online. Ticket numbers for the Opening Night will be limited so please purchase your tickets early and join us for the celebration.

How do I know if my artwork has been sold?

At the conclusion of the exhibition an email will be sent to you if your work has been sold.

What arrangements do I need to make for collecting my unsold artwork after the exhibition?

All artwork must have a return address label (A4) in an envelope attached to the back of the artwork.

Collection of Finalist’s artworks:

Personal collection:

  • Sunday 26 May 2024 2.00pm to 4.00pm - collection of unpackaged artworks from Ravenswood, Gate 3 Henry Street, Gordon
  • Wednesday 29 May 2024 10.00am to 2.00pm - collection of packaged artworks from Ravenswood, Gate 3 Henry Street, Gordon

Courier collection:

  • Friday 31 May to Thursday 20 June 2024 - courier collection of artworks from Knightmoves Unit 1, 12 Pembury Road, Minto, NSW, 2566