Can international artists enter Australian art prizes?

Many Australian prizes are open only to Australian citizens or permanent residents, even when the prize name says 'national' or sounds international. Some, however, do accept worldwide entries. Arthead verifies the conditions of entry for every listed prize and marks eligibility clearly.

What is an acquisitive art prize?

A prize where the winning work is purchased by the host gallery or council for its permanent collection, with the prize money serving as the acquisition payment. Australia runs many of these, so winning adds both a sale and a public collection credit to your record.

Do Australian open calls charge entry fees?

Most Australian art prizes charge modest entry fees, commonly AU$30–60 per work, which fund the prize pool and exhibition. Council-run programs and some residencies are free to apply. Fees are stated on every Arthead listing.

What funding exists for artists in Australia?

Creative Australia provides federal project funding, state bodies like Creative Victoria and Create NSW fund at the state level, and local councils offer smaller grants. Nearly all require Australian citizenship or residency, which Arthead marks on each listing.

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Open Calls · Australia

Open Calls for Artists in Australia

Residencies, grants, exhibitions, and competitions across Australia. Curated and updated weekly.

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2,300+ tracked since launch

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GRTGrant

International·, Australia·Free entry

Art Worker Artist Grant 2026

$5,000 AUD grant. No required outcomes or acquittal. Funds may cover studio time, travel, healthcare, research, equipment, rest, materials, living expenses, or childcare.

The Art Worker Artist Grant is a biennial grant by Artist Engineering supporting artists whose livelihoods connect to art production, handling, exhibition, care, or stewardship.

International·, Australia·Free entry

WRG Digital Call-Out 2026: Generation Xi

$2,000 AUD prize, 5-month featured placement on White Rabbit Gallery website, social media promotion, professional mentorship from Spring in Alaska creative agency, permanent inclusion in WRG Digital Archive.

White Rabbit Gallery's annual digital call-out invites emerging artists and designers within the first 10 years of their practice to create a short animation or digital artwork responding to the theme 'Generation Xi,' exploring the 'New Ugly' design movement.

Later this season1

Domestic·, Australia·Entry fee See official site

ANAT Synapse Residency Program 2027

Total artist fee of $19,250 AUD ex GST, plus 12% superannuation, paid in regular instalments across the term of the residency. ANAT will also contribute up to $3,500 AUD toward other project expenses if required. The host organisation provides in-kind access to staff expertise, space, equipment and resources as agreed in the application budget.

ANAT Synapse pairs an artist with an Australian research organisation for a period of creative research at the intersection of art, science and technology.

Australian Network for Art and Technology

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14 Oct 2026

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✦ OPEN CALLS IN AUSTRALIA

Australian open calls, answered.

Australia's open-call scene is defined by its art prizes: a national circuit of well-funded painting, photography, and sculpture awards run by regional galleries and councils, many with acquisitive prizes worth tens of thousands of dollars, alongside residencies and council grants.

This page tracks Australian opportunities currently open. Eligibility deserves close attention here, since many Australian prizes are open only to citizens and residents; Arthead verifies each listing against the official conditions of entry before it goes live.

Can international artists enter Australian art prizes?: Many Australian prizes are open only to Australian citizens or permanent residents, even when the prize name says 'national' or sounds international. Some, however, do accept worldwide entries. Arthead verifies the conditions of entry for every listed prize and marks eligibility clearly.
What is an acquisitive art prize?: A prize where the winning work is purchased by the host gallery or council for its permanent collection, with the prize money serving as the acquisition payment. Australia runs many of these, so winning adds both a sale and a public collection credit to your record.
Do Australian open calls charge entry fees?: Most Australian art prizes charge modest entry fees, commonly AU$30–60 per work, which fund the prize pool and exhibition. Council-run programs and some residencies are free to apply. Fees are stated on every Arthead listing.
What funding exists for artists in Australia?: Creative Australia provides federal project funding, state bodies like Creative Victoria and Create NSW fund at the state level, and local councils offer smaller grants. Nearly all require Australian citizenship or residency, which Arthead marks on each listing.