ROSLYN KEAN Midare- Disorde, 2023 Complex Mokuhanga print
Very exciting news, this hand printed woodblock print by Roz Kean will find a new home in the Prints and Drawings Study Room at the British Museum, London.
Jacky Cheng, …that awaits at the end of life, 2022, Kozo papers, joss papers, organic fibres, natural and synthetic paper fibres, National Works on Paper 2024 install, photo: Kinfolk Imagery
National Works on Paper (NWOP) is one of Australia’s most prestigious acquisitive awards. A biennial exhibition, its role is to support and promote contemporary Australian artists working on or with paper.
With a long and rich history, National Works on Paper attracts leading contemporary artists from across Australia working in the fields of drawing, printmaking, digital prints and paper sculpture.
Recent winners include d Harding, Anna Hoyle, Annika Romeyn, James Tylor & Laura Wills, Daniel O’Shane, Jess Johnson, Laith McGregor, Richard Lewer, Danie Mellor, Gareth Sansom, Paul Boston, Lisa Roet and eX de Medici.
Mornington Penisular Regional Gallery
National Works on Paper 2026
Up to $50,000 acquisitions and awards
Entries closed Friday 20 March
Exhibition dates Saturday 5 Sept – Sunday 22 Nov 2026
Framed works will be displayed using D-rings. No other hanging devices are to be attached to the works. Unframed works will be displayed using pins or magnetic ‘pins’. Artists should supply instructions with their work where appropriate.
There is no size restrictions for entry, but note that display wall height is 3.8 metres.
more info https://mprg.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Exhibitions/National-Works-on-Paper/National-Works-on-Paper-2026
entries close 2 February 2026
Exhibition dates 19 March -23 May 2026, Launch 21 March
PRIZES: Painting ($50,000 acquisitive), Works on Paper ($10,000 acquisitive), and Ceramics ($10,000 acquisitive)
Nathalie Gautier-Hartog, a Sydney Printmakers member, has her work Looking for Paradise on display in the exhibition Paper Universe: the Book as Art, State Library NSW.
The exhibition runs until Sunday 3 May 2026
https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/paper-universe-book-art
Artist Statement: The work creates a parallel between Australian government policies and their consequences on refugees’ quest in looking for a better place to live, a search for paradise and their dreams to find a refuge. Central to the theme of the work, I am bringing the stories of these immigrants, relegated to the margin of society, to the centre page. The 12 books look into how past and present policies instigated to help or denied entry to people in need of a “safe heaven”. The books are presented in a barb wire cage alluding to the restrictive movements imposed on refugees.
2025 marks the first year of the MAC yapang Art Prize! This national art prize has a total prize pool of $40,000.
It is open to artists from all disciplines across Australia, with artworks in any medium.
The winning artist of the acquisitive prize will be awarded $30,000, and their
The MAC yapang Art Prize is a new, open acquisitive art prize offered by the Museum of Art and Culture, yapang (MAC yapang) in Lake Macquarie, NSW. It offers a $30,000 cash prize for the winning artwork, which will also be acquired for the museum’s permanent collection.
It is open to artists from all disciplines across Australia, with artworks in any medium.
2 June 2025 – Entries open online
30 July 2025 – Entries close at 3pm
18 August 2025 – Finalists announced
11 October 2025 – Delivery of Finalist artwork to MAC yapang (2A First Street, Booragul, NSW)
17 October 2025 – Exhibition opening and award announcement at Museum of Art and Culture, yapang from 6pm
18 October – 7 December 2025 – MAC yapang Art Prize exhibition on view
Read the MAC yapang Art Prize 2025 terms and conditions
Every year the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Fine Art Collection grows through donations and purchases. Our most recent acquisitions include works by: Vicky Browne, Bette Mifsud, Peachey & Mosig, Michael Shirley, Anne Smith, and Leanne Tobin.
IMAGE: ANNE SMITH Artist’s Garden, The Barbeque (Wentworth Falls) 1997, coloured etching, 20 x 25 cm. Donated through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program by Anne Smith 2023
There will be an exhibition of ‘New Acquisitions’ at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre from the 19th October, which will include Anne’s work.
The Cultural Centre is at 30 Parke Street, Katoomba. Hours are 10am to 5pm weekdays, 10am to 4pm weekends.
The Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery’s National Works on Paper (NWOP) was established in 1998 and incorporated the former Spring Festival of Drawing and Prints Acquisitive which began in 1973 and 1974.
With a long and rich history, NWOP attracts leading contemporary artists from across Australia working in the fields of drawing, printmaking, digital prints and paper sculpture.
NWOP supports and promotes Australian artists working on or with paper.
Recent winners of the National Works on Paper include Anna Hoyle, Annika Romeyn, James Tylor & Laura Wills, Daniel O’Shane, Jess Johnson, Laith McGregor, Richard Lewer, Danie Mellor, Gareth Sansom, Paul Boston, Lisa Roet and eX de Medici.
National Works on Paper 2024
Entries open Thursday 18 January
Entries close Friday 5 April
Exhibition dates 31 August – 24 November
Add your email address to our National Works on Paper mailing list to receive updates about National Works on Paper 2024
The twelve books comprising Nathalie’s work Looking for Paradise have been purchased by the State Library of NSW and should be available for viewing next year.
Congratulations, Nathalie.
This work looks at past and present policies that different governments instigated to help or deny entry to people in need of a ‘Safe Haven’.
This project is a reminder of Australia’s responsibility as a first signatory of the United Nation Human Rights Charter.
Over 12 books, Nathalie brings the stories of these refugees, often relegated to the margins of society, to the centre of the page.
The books are presented in a barbed wire cage alluding to the restrictive movements imposed on refugees.
In parallel to the fate of many refugees, drawings of the Australian bush and botanical specimens are referencing the First Nation people often equally displaced from their lands.
Since 1958, the Muswellbrook Art Prize has grown and evolved and is today one of the richest prizes for painting in regional Australia. Finalists for the Muswellbrook Art Prize vie for a total of $70,000 prize money across three prize categories: Painting ($50,000 acquisitive), Works on Paper ($10,000 acquisitive), and Ceramics ($10,000 acquisitive).
Astute adjudication of the Prize over the years has yielded an excellent collection of modern and contemporary Australian paintings, works on paper and ceramics from the Post War period of the 20th Century and into the 21st Century, with the winning acquisitive works forming the nucleus of what is now known as the Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection. Previous winners of the Muswellbrook Art Prize include such key figures as David Aspden, Sydney Ball, Richard Larter and Fred Williams. The Upper Hunter Region is also well represented with a number of local artists being successful in winning the Prize including Peter Atkins, Dale Frank, Lyn Nash and Hanna Kay.
Along with Muswellbrook Shire Council, who since 1958 has acted as sponsor and administrator of the Muswellbrook Art Prize, Bengalla Mining Company has generously sponsored the Prize for close to three decades, their commitment ensuring the development of the Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection.
Enter Here: https://www.artgalleria.com/portal/muswellbrookartprize
Image on Splash Page: Detail, Margaret Loy Pula, Anatye – Bush Potato 2012, acrylic on Belgian linen, 149 x 152cm, Winner Muswellbrook Art Prize 2013, Painting, Muswellbrook Shire Art Collection.
This year’s theme is “Island Awakening” and is open to artists in Painting, Sculpture, Textiles, Drawing, Printmaking, Photography and Mixed media. Entries now open for this $20,000 acquisitive art prize.
Entries close on 10th May. For more information and to enter, please visit bayoffireswinterartsfestival.com.au