Prize Summary
All prizes are non-acquisitive.

• Overall Prize – $30,000
• Special Commendation – $5,000
• Commendation – 2 prizes, each $1,500
• People’s Choice Prize – $3,000

Key Dates

• Entries Open: 22 July 2024
• Entries Close: 5pm AEST⁠ 16 September 2024
• Finalists Notified: 23 September
• Exhibition Opening: 22 November
• Finalists Exhibition: 22 – 30 November 2024
• Finalists will be informed of additional key dates including: the delivery of artwork, high-quality photos, an artist statement, and artist headshots.

Who can Enter?
To qualify, an entrant to ‘Artists of the Year’ must:

• Be 18 years of age or over.
• Be an emerging artist. The Committee regards artists who meet the following criteria to be ‘emerging artists’:
• Has specialised training in their field, not necessarily gained in an institution.
• Is at an early stage of pursuing a career as a professional artist.
• Is deemed by the selection panel to be suitable for entry in accordance with ‘Artists of the Year’ purposes.
• If necessary, the panel can consult with industry colleagues as to the suitability of the applicant.

Artworks being Entered

• ‘Artists of the Year’ accepts submissions across all visual and fine art forms (painting, photography, sculpture, installation, video, jewellery, etc.).
• Works submitted must have been completed in the two years prior to the opening date of the exhibition and be the original work of the artist.
• ‘the churchie’ is open to artistic collaborations and collectives.
• Works submitted must not infringe on the copyright, moral rights, or other rights of any third party.

How to Enter

• There is a $50 (incl GST) entry fee.
• The entrance fee is non-refundable and it is only after payment is processed that the submission will be processed.
• Entries will only be accepted via the online entry form on ‘Artists of the Year’ website.
• All entries must be received on or before the closing date specified. The application facility of ‘Artists of the Year’ website will be unavailable after this date. There are to be no changes to applications after the closing date.
• An artist may be required to provide additional information in connection with an application or a work submitted.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Gallerists are welcome to submit an application on behalf of an artist, with the artist’s permission.

Your Submission

• Up to 5 artworks may be submitted for consideration in the one prize year.
• All images must be png, jpeg, or jpg files (less than 10MB) and be of the work in its entirety.
• All entries containing moving image components provide links to viewable files by Vimeo or YouTube.
• Any submission containing a video work must include a time mark for a one-minute period that best demonstrates that video work.
• An artist statement of no more than 300 words is required.
• Selected finalists will be required to supply high res (300dpi) image files of their artwork.
• Any use of AI needs to be disclosed as part of the submission.

Finalist Selection Process
Selection Panel:

• Each year a selection panel will be created to select finalists. This panel will include an external industry expert, a representative from Artists of the Year and committee.
• The Selection Panel will review and assess all valid applications received and will select finalists for the exhibition.
• Amongst other things, finalists will be selected on the basis of:
• Compliance with the entry criteria outlined above
• The strength of the artist’s practice as demonstrated by artworks submitted
• Commitment to pursuing an artistic career
• Viability within exhibition resources and curatorial scope
• Finalists will be notified by email at least 6 weeks prior to the opening of ‘Artists of the Year’.
• Finalists may be invited to present multiple artworks, as determined by the Selection Panel.

If your work is selected
General agreements:

• A work selected for entry must be made available for display at ‘Artists of the Year’ during the entire period of the exhibition.
• Substitutes for a selected artwork will not be accepted without prior discussion with ‘Artists of the Year’.
• Requirements will be discussed with artists upon selection for exhibition. Artists must ensure that work is adequately packed for transportation.
• Artists whose work is selected for the exhibition, authorise and agree to permit ‘Artists of the Year’ Committee to publish their names, to photograph the work and publish the photographs, and/or to publish and communicate images provided by artists and/or their agents in order to promote ‘Artists of the Year’ and future exhibitions, and for educational purposes. These permissions acknowledge that the artist remains the copyright holder and reproductions will be compliant with Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent amendments.

Works for Sale:

• Finalists have the option to list their exhibited artwork/s for sale for the duration of the exhibition.
• Finalists are not required to list their artworks for sale.
• Whether an artwork is for sale will not affect the decisions of the Selection Panel or the Appointed Judge.
• ‘Artists of the Year’ does not take a commission from the sale price of artworks.

Liability:

• Entrants warrant that they are the copyright owner of the artworks submitted with the entry and they indemnify Artists of the Year and/or their agent for any breach of infringement or copyright.
• Insurance Artists of the Year will maintain adequate insurance cover against loss, damage, theft and destruction of the artwork as long as the artwork is within Artists of the Year’ premises.
• ‘Artists of the Year’ will maintain adequate public liability insurance cover for the duration of the public exhibition.
• The artist is responsible for any transit insurance for the work/s.

Delivery and Exhibition Installation

• Selected works must be delivered to Artists of the Year by the date specified in correspondence with the ‘Artists of the Year’.
• Finalists will be responsible for organising delivery of their artwork to Artists of the Year, including covering any costs associated with transit insurance for the work/s as above.
• Finalists will be responsible for delivery and collection costs of artworks to and from Artists of the Year.
• All works must be clearly marked with the artist’s name and address.
• All artworks must be exhibition-ready by being suitably mounted, framed, or otherwise prepared for display. Clear instructions are necessary for both intricate installations and digital works.
• Works involving complex installations may be carried out by the artist if required. Such artists are required to undertake an induction with Artists of the Year staff prior to working on site.
• After the exhibition period artworks will be packed and ready for dispatch from Metro Arts by the date specified in the correspondence with ‘Artists of the Year’. Artists must liaise with ‘the churchie’ to collect or organise freight of their work within a reasonable period.
• Artists will be charged for any costs incurred if their work is not collected within the set period.

The Prizes

• An Appointed Judge will select the overall prize winner and recipients of commendation prizes, based on the strength of the artists’ works on display in the exhibition.
• The decision of the Judge/s is final.
• All prizes are non-acquisitive.
• Finalists are highly encouraged to attend the Official Opening + Prize Announcement if able.
• The overall prize winner and recipients of commendation prizes will be announced at the Official Opening + Prize Announcement.
• Certificates will also be presented to the overall prize winner and recipients of commendation prizes.
• A People’s Choice prize will be awarded to the finalist with the highest number of public votes once the exhibition ends.