Central Belonging Art Award 2026

Central Belonging Art Award 2026 graphic branding

Apply to Central Belonging Art Award 2026
Call for entries are now closed.

$2,000 First and $1,000 Second non-acquisitive awards
$500 People’s Choice Award

Central Belonging Art Award is an art prize exhibition that represents the rich diversity of the artistic communities around and within the Central West region. Established and emerging Artists who are local to Cowra Shire and the surrounding areas are invited to apply to Cowra Regional Art Gallery with artworks.

Artists from the following local government areas are eligible to apply; Bathurst, Bland, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Hilltops, Lachlan, Lithgow, Mid-Western Region, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Upper Lachlan and Weddin.

The exhibition is an opportunity to explore the passions, imagination and inspiration of the Central West creatives. All ranges of disciplines and media are eligible to be entered, including painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, video, textile and installation art.

Central Belonging celebrates what it means to be part of the vibrant ‘Cowra and beyond’ artistic cohort.

Central Belonging Art Award is supported by the Cowra Regional Art Gallery Advisory Committee. It is a non-acquisitive art prize in any subject and style and there is no theme.

Artworks in the exhibition can be for sale and the public can vote for a favourite work. The Central Belonging Art Award of $2,000 and a second-place award of $1,000 are funded by private donations. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will receive $500, funded by the Art Gallery Trust.

Finalists will be selected for the exhibition that runs at Cowra Regional Art Gallery from 15 May to 14 June 2026. The winner of the Central Belonging Art Award 2026 will be chosen by this year's judge, Lizzy Galloway, Gallery Curator at Mudgee Arts Precinct. The winner will be announced at the exhibition opening.

Cowra Regional Art Gallery gratefully acknowledges the donations by David Henley and Ken Hutchinson for the first-place Central Belonging Art Award of $2,000, and a private donor for the second-place award of $1,000.

Submitting an entry to the Central Belonging Art Award is FREE. 

Click here to download Terms and Conditions.(PDF, 4MB)

Email Cassandra.Hard-Lawrie@cowra.nsw.gov.au to receive a PDF Entry Form. 

Enquiries: cowraartgallery@cowra.nsw.gov.au or phone 6340 2190.

KEY DATES

  • Entries close Monday 6 April 2026
  • Delivery of finalist artwork Monday 11 May 2026
  • Opening event and Award announcement 6.00pm, Friday 15 May 2026
  • Exhibition dates 15 May to 14 June 2026
  • Pick up of artwork Monday 15 June and Tuesday 16 June 2026
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