Hunter Emerging Art Prize
Terms & Conditions
WHO CAN ENTER
ELIGIBILITY
Emerging
Any emerging artist can enter, that is, any artist:
• who has not had a solo exhibition in a major commercial or a public/regional gallery; and
• who does not hold a formal contract with any commercial gallery offering professional representation; and
• has not won a major art prize or residency.
Age
There is no age limit, although you do need to be over 16 to enter. Age is not a factor in determining an emerging artist.
Previous Winners
Overall Prize winners of the Newcastle Emerging Art Prize or Hunter Emerging Art Prize in previous years are ineligible, however, previous Section winners and Highly Commended/Commended winners may re-enter.
Location
The prize is open to artists living in the following local government areas: Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, MidCoast, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton, Upper Hunter.
HEAP 2024 KEY DATES
Early-bird entries open: Thursday 7th December 2023 ($44 Early-bird fee / $55 Entry fee)
Early-bird entries close: Midnight Friday 5th January 2024
Entries close: Midnight Thursday 15th February 2024
Finalist announcement: Friday 1st March 2024
Delivery of finalists’ works: 10am - 2pm Wed 6th - Fri 8th March 2024
Winners announcement at the exhibition opening: 6-8pm Friday 22nd March 2024
Prize exhibition: from 6pm 22nd March - 4pm 14th April 2024
Collection of unsold works: 10am - 2pm Wed 17th - Fri 19th April 2024
CRITERIA FOR WORKS
ALL SECTIONS
• Works must have been completed within twelve months of the closing date of the Hunter Emerging Art Prize 2023-2024
• The maximum size of all artworks is 120cm x 120cm x120cm, including the frame. Your entry may be a multi-panel work, provided the overall dimensions do not exceed the maximum size limit.
• If you are selected as a finalist, your artwork must be presented in a professional manner and ready for hanging or installation. The work you enter online must be capable of meeting the presentation requirements for finalists’ works outlined below.
•Artists are required to remove and take away all packaging upon delivery of works.
•No wet works will be accepted.
•All works selected as finalists must be made available for sale at Newcastle Art Space Gallery
SECTION-SPECIFIC CRITERIA
Experimental
Entries using innovative approaches to challenge traditional art methods and materials across multi-disciplinary art forms such as painting, printmaking, photography, digital and sculpture.
Painting
May be painted in any medium (including oil, acrylic, watercolour, gouache, and mixed media).
Photomedia
Photomedia includes both digital and analogue works.
Sculpture / 3D
May be created in any sculptural medium (including textiles, paper, ceramics, bronze, plaster, stone, wax, wood, marble, granite).
Works on Paper
May be created in any medium on paper (including drawing, printmaking, stencilling, collage).
Ceramics
Created with clay and kiln-fired
THE JUDGING PROCESS
HELPFUL ADVICE FROM THE JUDGES
The judges appreciate that emerging artists are not experienced in entering art prizes or even publicly exhibiting their work, so offer some helpful hints for your consideration:
• Your work will be judged in a competitive field. Judges will consider your work in terms of how it holds its own in this field and how accomplished and/or innovative you have been in your use of materials and techniques, together with elements of risk taking and/or pushing the boundaries of practice.
• Work towards resolution in your artwork and present it as professionally as you can afford. If the work’s integrity and presence depend on a particular installation, specify it. This may not always be achieveable in our gallery, but give it a go! The special arrangement of an artwork is so important and adds (or detracts) from its meaning for the viewer.
• Give your work the best chance of being selected by having a clear artists statement and quality photography.
• Consider your artist statement and ensure it reflects and enhances the meaning of the artwork. The judges will read the artists statements when considering the entries.
HOW IT WORKS
• Finalists works will be hung in the Newcastle Art Space Gallery for the final judging.
• The Judging Panel will choose the Section Winners, Youth Prize Winner and the Overall Prize winner.
• The decisions during the judging process are final and no correspondence or appeal will be entered into or considered.
• Finalists will be announced on Newcastle Art Space’s social media channels on Friday 1st March 2024.
•The Section Winners, Youth Prize winner and the Overall Prize winner will be announced at the Hunter Emerging Art Prize Opening Night, Friday 22nd March 2024.
•The People’s Choice Award will be based on votes received throughout exhibition from gallery visitors and online, and will be announced at the end of the exhibition.
IF SELECTED AS A FINALIST
BEING SELECTED AS A FINALIST CAN BE HIGHLY BENEFICIAL FOR YOUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT AS AN EMERGING ARTIST, IN TERMS OF RECOGNITION, EXPOSURE, POTENTIAL SALES AND NETWORKING.
• If you are selected as a finalist, we will notify you by email on 1st march 2024. We will announce all the finalists publicly on that day via our social media channels.
• The email you receive will contain information about delivery of your work and promotion of being selected as a finalist, and about sales, the exhibition and collection of unsold work.
• Becoming a finalist is subject to certain conditions and requirements being met.
• A work selected as a finalist must be made available for display and for sale at Newcastle Art Space Gallery during the period of the Hunter Emerging Art Prize exhibition.
• Newcastle Art Space takes a 30% commission on all sold works to assist in covering the cost of running the Hunter Emerging Art Prize.
• Finalists authorise and agree to permit the organisers of the Hunter Emerging Art Prize to publish their names, to photograph the work and reproduce images of any work selected for the purpose of promotion of the Hunter Emerging Art Prize. This includes on the Newcastle Art Space website and social media channels (e.g. Facebook, Instagram) and for future Hunter Emerging Art Prize advertising. These permissions acknowledge that the artist remains the copyright holder.
• The responsibility for transporting works to and from the Gallery rests with the artist/s.
• Artworks need to be clearly labelled with artist’s name, title of work, medium, size, price, contact number and email of artist. Please mark ‘top’ of artwork if required.
• Newcastle Art Space will exercise all due care with the works submitted but will not be responsible for any loss or damage suffered whatsoever to any artwork while in transit or under its control. Each entrant shall indemnify the artwork and its agents against loss or damage suffered to their artwork whatsoever.
• Each artist is responsible for their own insurance cover for works in transit and while in the gallery.
HANGING AND PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS
• D-hooks are required on the back of framed and works on canvas
• Unframed work will be hung on the wall using pins or magnets and needs to be delivered to the gallery between board to protect work – rolled artworks will not be accepted.
• We will liaise with finalists presenting digital works and will work to provide a suitable environment any professional or specific equipment, e.g. data projectors, required.
• The installation of very large or heavy works and works involving complex installations must be carried out by the artist/s personally under supervision of Newcastle Art Space Gallery staff.
HOW TO ENTER:
Entries must be submitted online via the Entry Form (link below).
You can submit a maximum of 2 entries.
These can be entered in the same or different sections.
Each entry needs to be submitted separately, paying a separate entry fee.
The entry fee is non-refundable.
STEP 1
PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE READ THE TERMS & CONDITIONS (ABOVE) IN FULL BEFORE MAKING YOUR ENTRY.
STEP 2
CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY
• Do you meet this Prize’s criteria for an emerging artist?
• Will you be 16 years of age on 15 February 2024?
• Do you live within the geographical boundaries for the prize?
• Have you been an Overall Prize winner in the Newcastle Emerging Art Prize or Hunter Emerging Art Prize in prior years?
• Was the artwork created after 15 February 2023?
STEP 3
SELECT THE SECTION/S YOU WILL ENTER
Check the Prize Categories and our Criteria for Works
STEP 4
PREPARE YOUR ENTRY INFORMATION
• An artist’s statement (150 words) about the work – the themes/message conveyed
• If you are entering a digital artwork, please provide a URL (check that it works)
• If required, include notes about display requirements for your work
• Your 1-page artist CV
• Images of your work. We need a full image and a detail image, both saved as jpegs (2-5MB each)
YOU MUST save your files using the required filename format:
Firstname_lastname_CV
Firstname_lastname_titleofwork_full
Firstname_lastname_titleofwork_detail
STEP 5
ENTER ONLINE BY MIDNIGHT 15 FEBRUARY 2024
Follow the link below to the online application form:
CLICK HERE TO ENTER
WE'RE HERE TO HELP:
WATCH THE VIDEOS
We asked award winning local artists Belinda Street and Rachel Milne to share their insights on entering art prizes. Access the interview on our website to hear their great tips and seasoned advice.
We also asked professional photographer Joerg Lehmann to share his tips on photographing your artwork with a mobile phone.
Available online at newcastleartspace.org.au/prizes-support
ANY QUESTIONS?
Our prizes team can help answer your questions. Contact us at prizes@newcastleartspace.org.au