Make your mark in the art scene by entering the
Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize.
Since its inception in 2017, the Ravenswood Australian Women’s Art Prize has championed artistic excellence and created opportunities for women artists across Australia. The Prize has grown significantly each year, attracting an increasing number of entries from both emerging and established artists.
A total prize pool of $58,000 is awarded across the Professional Artist, Emerging Artist and Indigenous Emerging Artist categories, as well as the People’s Choice Award and Highly Commended Awards.
2027 Key Dates:
- Entries open Wednesday 4 November 2026
- Entries close Wednesday 10 February 2027 at 12.00pm AEDT
- Finalists announced on Wednesday 31 March 2027
- Opening Night (proudly presented by Taylor) on Friday 14 May 2027 (Tickets on sale February 2027)
- Exhibition of Finalists on Saturday 15 May – Sunday 30 May 2027
There are three prize categories. In each category, the artwork entered must best reflect the intentions of your practice. Entry can only be made under one category, in the Professional Artist Prize, Emerging Artist Prize or the Indigenous Emerging Artist Prize. Artists can only submit a maximum of two entries. All entries must be available for sale at the Exhibition of Finalists.
- Professional Artist Prize – $35,000 (acquisitive)
- Emerging Artist Prize, supported by the Reed Family Foundation – $7,500 (acquisitive)
- Indigenous Emerging Artist Prize, supported by the Guardian and Scarborough Foundation – $7,500 (acquisitive)
- People’s Choice Award, supported by Edwina Palmer – $2,000 plus a $500 Derivan art pack
- Highly Commended Awards, supported by Community Bank Lindfield– six $1,000 awards (two for each category)
Exhibition of Finalists
Thursdays to Sundays, 10am to 4pm (Free entry)
Held at Ravenswood School for Girls, 10 Henry Street, Gordon, NSW
Artwork Sales
Finalist Artworks will be available for sale at the Opening Night and during the Exhibition and may 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 12 months preceding the closing date for entries; over 18 years of age on 1 February 2027; and who identify as professional artists.
- This is an acquisitive prize: the winner is required 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 group of Ravenswood students within six months of the prize being announced.
Emerging Artist Prize (acquisitive)
- Prize Value: $7,500
- Open to women artists resident in Australia during the 12 months preceding the closing date for entries; over 18 years of age on 1 February 2026; and who are in the early stages of an art career.
- This is an acquisitive prize: the winner is required to donate their 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 group of Ravenswood students within six months of the prize.
Indigenous Emerging Artist Prize (acquisitive)
- Prize Value: $7,500
- Open to women artists of Indigenous descent (including Torres Strait Islander), who identify as Indigenous/Torres Strait Islander, are accepted as Indigenous/Torres Strait Islander by an Indigenous/Torres Strait Islander community (notify name of the community).
- Entrants must also have been resident in Australia during the 12 months preceding the closing date for entries; over 18 years of age on 1 February 2026 and identify as an emerging artist.
- This is an acquisitive prize: the winner is required to donate 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 group of Ravenswood students within six months of the prize.
Entry Checklist
You may edit your entry as many times as required up until the close of entries on 10 February 2027. 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 or PDF file
- CV/career background as a Word or PDF file
- One image of the artwork entered (maximum of 3 images) as a JPEG file (.jpg file extension), named with artist name and artwork. JPEG must not exceed 3MB.
- For video entries, provide a link to your video (for example, on YouTube, Dropbox or Vimeo). Your video must not exceed 10 minutes.
- Sale price of artwork (your artwork must be for sale) Please list the sale price on your entry form.
FAQ
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.
Artworks should not exceed 20 kilograms or be larger than 2 x 2 metres, including frame. Videos must not exceed 10 minutes. (Note that 4K monitors are provided. Video entries may be presented on a loop with other artists’ works.)
All entrants must be 18 years or over as of 1 February 2027.
An Emerging Artist is in the process of establishing a professional practice and has exhibited artwork and 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 usually not formally represented by a major commercial gallery yet. An Emerging Artist may have specialist credentials, such as qualifications in visual art or design from a university or college. These details will be evident in your CV.
An Indigenous Emerging Artist is in the process of establishing a professional practice and has exhibited artwork. An Indigenous Emerging Artist 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, such as qualifications in visual art or design from a university or college. These details will be evident in your CV.
A Professional Artist is 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, such as qualifications in visual art or design from a university or college. A Professional Artist will have an ABN and will:
- have artworks held in collections
- be represented by a gallery or agent
- have been granted significant contracts or commissions
- have significant bodies of work that are known to and in the art world.
These details will be evident in your CV.
You will receive a confirmation email once your submission has been placed.
Payment is made during the application process.
Yes, we understand that it can be expensive to enter prizes. Ravenswood is happy for you to submit an email outlining your hardship. Special consideration may be given to waive the entry fee for Emerging artists. Requests for a fee waiver must be received by 3pm 28 January 2027 (Daylight Saving Time – Eastern Australia)
Yes, if you wish, you have the option to choose the best three images to show different angles of your artwork, if required, to submit online with your application.
No, you can only enter one category.
Yes, a maximum of two artworks may be entered, but must be in the same category.
Yes, all works must be for sale.
No, only one artist name for each profile registered. Studios and galleries may register on behalf of up to 10 artists.
Yes, all mediums, including photography, are welcome.
Yes, if an artist is contracted to a gallery, the commission will be split as 20% to the gallery, 30% to the School and 50% to the artist, should your artwork be sold.
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. Any costs associated with this must be paid for by the artist.
Delivery of Finalists’ artworks:
- Courier delivery: From Tuesday 6 April to Friday 20 April 2027, 8am to 2pm (Tuesdays and Thursdays) to Knightmoves, Unit 1, 12 Pembury Road, Minto, NSW, 2566. An art courier will deliver these artworks to Ravenswood on Monday 3 May 2027.
- Personal delivery: On Saturday 1 May 2027, 10am to 1pm, and Monday 3 May 2027, 10am to 2pm to Ravenswood School for Girls. Details regarding delivery gate will be provided in the information pack sent to Finalists.
Please note: parking is restricted and the street is monitored by parking inspectors.
You will be notified by email on 31 March 2027 and a list of finalists will be published on the website.
Opening Night (proudly presented by Taylor) tickets will be available to purchase from March 2027.
The Exhibition of Finalists runs from 15 to 30 May 2027, 10.00am to 4.00pm, Thursdays to Sundays. Entry is free.
The Exhibition of Finalists address:
Ravenswood School for Girls, Art Foyer of The Anne Johnstone Wellbeing and Sports Centre. Gate 1, 10 Henry Street Gordon NSW, 2072.
All finalists will be given one complimentary ticket for their entry or a representative for the Opening Night. Ticket numbers for the Opening Night (proudly presented by Taylor) will be limited, so please purchase your tickets early and join us for the celebration.
At the conclusion of the exhibition, you will be sent an email if your work has been sold.
$50 for Professional, $30 for Emerging and $30 for Indigenous Emerging artists.
All artwork must have a return address label (A4) in an envelope attached to the back of the artwork.
Collection of Finalists’ artworks:
Personal collection dates:
- Sunday 30 May 2027, 5.00pm to 6.00pm – collection of unpackaged artworks from Ravenswood School for Girls.
- Wednesday 2 June 2027, 10am to 2pm – collection of unpackaged artworks from Ravenswood School for Girls.
Courier collection
- Artworks may be collected from the courier collection point at Knightmoves, Unit 1, 12 Pembury Road, Minto, NSW, 2566 from 8am to 2pm on Friday 4 June 2027 and then on Tuesdays and Thursdays until Thursday 24 June 2027.
