Art Awards

The Art Awards are one of Queensland’s most prestigious regional art events and is eagerly anticipated each year. 2024 will mark the 49th anniversary of The Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards. 

The exhibition of entries created by established, emerging and amateur artists Australia wide, will be on display from 19 October 2024 to 25 January 2025. 

KEY DATES 2024

Calling for submissions - 10am-4pm, Tuesday to Friday 1- 4 October and 10am-1pm, Saturday, 5 October 2024. PLEASE NOTE - Dimensions have been reduced to 1500mm x 1500mm x 1500mm and digital works must not exceed 10mins in 2024. 
GRAGM Closed for Installation - 7 to 18 October 2024
Exhibition Opens – 10am, Saturday 19 October 2024
Judge’s Floor Talk & Illustrated Lecture - 10.30am, Saturday 19 October 2024
Official Opening and Awards Presentation - 6pm, Saturday 19 October 2024
QAL People’s Choice Awards Voting - 10am, Saturday 19 October 2024
Art Awards Artist Talks - to be announced
Exhibition Closes - 2pm, Saturday, 25 January 2025
Collection of Works - 27 January to 1 February 2025

CATEGORIES & PRIZES

The 49th Rio Tinto Yarwun & QAL Martin Hanson Memorial Art Award: $15,000

The Pamela Whitlock Memorial Acquisitive Award $5000
The Pieter Groen-int-woud Memorial Young Emerging Artist Award $1,500
The Local Murri Artist Award $1,500
The Local Artist Award $1500
The Installers Choice Award $500

The QAL People’ Choice Awards: $500 each
• SECTION 1: Easel Works
• SECTION 2: Works on Paper
• SECTION 3: Three Dimensions & Fibre Works
• SECTION 4: Digital Works

SECTION 1: Easel Works
Mixed media, acrylic, collage, oil, paint, etc, on non paper-based supports, e.g. canvas, Masonite, etc.
• First Prize $2000
• Second Prize $1000
• Third Prize $500

SECTION 2: Works on Paper
Drawing, watercolour, collage, mixed media, print, etc. on paper-based supports.
• First Prize $2000
• Second Prize $1000
• Third Prize $500

SECTION 3: Three Dimensions & Fibre Works
Pottery hand built/wheel thrown, sculpture including maquettes, carving, assemblage, timber, metal, stone, plastics, fibre, etc.
• First Prize $2000
• Second Prize $1000
• Third Prize $500

SECTION 4: Digital Works
Photography, moving image, animation, soundscapes, etc.
• First Prize $2000
• Second Prize $1000
• Third Prize $500

conditions of entry

Non-Negotiable

1. $15 entry fee (incl. GST) per artwork, non-refundable. 
2. Entrants must be 15 years of age or over at time of entry.
3. Only one work per artist may be A collaborative work is seen as an entry by each individual collaborator. The name of each individual collaborator must be listed on the entry form. There is a 30 character limit on artwork titles and medium descriptions (note: 'characters' includes spaces).
4. Entry fee completed entry form and labelled artwork are to be received by 1pm, Saturday, 5 October Late entries will not be accepted.
5. All works will be viewed by the The Judge's decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Eligibility

6. All works and concepts must be the original, unaided work of the entrant and created during the twelve months prior to 1 October 2024. Workshop projects, commercially produced kits, designs, etc. or works completed more than 12 months prior to 1 October 2024 are not eligible.
7. All entries are eligible for The Martin Hanson Memorial Art Award, The Installers Choice Award and applied for section
8. The Pamela Whitlock Memorial Acquisitive Award: Works in all sections are eligible if the work is listed 'for sale' with an artist's requested value of $5,000 or less (i.e. excluding commission and GST).
9. The Young Emerging Artist Award: The entrant must be aged 15 to 25 years, as at 1 October 2024.
10. The Local Murri Artist Award: The entrant must identify as an Aboriginal, Torres Strait or South Sea Islander artist and be a resident within the Gladstone Regional Council area, for at least 3 consecutive months of the 12 months prior to 1 October 2024.
11. The Local Artist Award:The entrant must be a resident within the Gladstone Regional Council area, for at least 3 consecutive months of the 12 months prior to 1 October 2024.
12. The People's Choice Awards: All entrants are eligible to win in their registered section, as voted by the public while visiting the exhibition. One prize will be awarded in each section. Voting is available between the specified dates at the Gallery and Museum during Gallery and Museum opening hours. Winners are announced towards the end of the
13. The Installers Choice Award: Works in all sections are Recipient of the Award will be selected by Gallery and Museum staff and volunteers.
14. Section4: Entries in Section 4 Digital Works will be shown on televisions on a looping 'show reel' with others. Files must be provided on USB in the following formats: MP3, MP4, AVI or WMA. A maximum duration of 10 minutes (incl. credits).

Display Requirements

15. Maximum artwork display dimensions (including frame and/or mount):

16. Artworks exceeding these dimensions may be rejected and/or excluded from judging.
17. Diptych or Triptych works are considered a single artwork and must meet the maximum display dimensions as per above.
18. Works with multiple components, considered as one work, must include clear assembly instructions with a photo/sketch of the best way to display the work.
19. Works must be able to be safely handled by up to two people.
20. Works to be hung must be submitted with “D” ring attachments, 100mm from top of frame for larger works, 50mm for smaller works. Plinths are available for three-dimensional works, however, stands or support mounts must be supplied by the entrant where necessary. Artworks delivered without suitable hanging attachments may not be displayed.
21. Electrical components must be tested and tagged.

Delivery and collection:

22. Arrangements and expenses pertaining to the delivery and collection of works to the Gallery and Museum are the entrant’s responsibility. Return freight must be prepaid. Consignment notes, prepaid vouchers or postage stamps, etc., to be enclosed with entry form. If arrangements are not made by the artist to provide return freight, Gladstone Regional council will collect repayment.
23. Complete submissions should be addressed to: 2024 Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards, Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum, Cnr Goondoon and Bramston Streets, Gladstone, Qld, 4680.
24. Works must be collected from the Gallery and Museum between the specified dates. No responsibility will be taken for unclaimed entries. Works not collected between the specified dates will become the property of Gladstone Regional Council.

Upon entering a submission, the Entrant agrees to the following

25. Entrants display instructions will be taken into consideration; however, it is at the Curator’s discretion how the works will be displayed. The Curator’s decision is final.
26. The Judge’s decision is final and binding. No correspondence or discussions regarding any decision will be entered into.
27. By submitting an entry each Entrant grants to Gladstone Regional Council an irrevocable, unconditional, perpetual, royalty free, non­exclusive licence to photograph and reproduce entries (print and on­ line, including social media) for marketing and publicity purposes for the Gallery and Museum and for catalogue and archival purposes.
28. The Gallery and Museum takes care in exhibiting and handling entries; however, works are submitted at the entrant's No liability will be accepted for any loss or damage, either in transit, during installation, deinstallation or while on display.
29. All works must remain in the exhibition until the specified collection
30. Visitors to the exhibition are allowed to photograph the exhibition and all works on display preferably without No professional equipment (i.e. DSLRs, speedlights, tripods, light stands, etc.) will be permitted.
31. A commission of 20% (+ GST on commission) will be added to all works for sale.
32. The Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum reserves the right to modify these conditions of entry as they see fit and may withdraw a prize or category at their discretion.

2024 Judge 

Kyle Weise - Acting Curator, The University of Queensland Art Museum

Photo: Joe Ruckli

Kyle Weise is a writer and curator with a longstanding engagement with not-for-profit and artist-run spaces, and currently holds positions as Acting Curator at the University of Queensland Art Museum and Curatorial Officer at the Redland Art Galler. Alongside independent curatorial projects, he was the Curator at Metro Arts (Meanjin/Brisbane, 2018-2023), a committee member of Kings ARI (Naarm/Melbourne, 2009-11) and, with long-term collaborator Simone Hine, co-founded and co-directed Screen Space (Naarm, 2010-16), Beam Contemporary (Naarm, 2010-2014) and Kuiper Projects (Meanjin/Brisbane, 2017-ongoing).

history of the awards

Since its inauguration in 1976, the Art Awards have become one of Queensland’s most prestigious regional art events and is eagerly anticipated each year. 

Martin Hanson (1923-1976) was a popular and highly-respected local businessman who was Member for Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Port Curtis 1963-1976, and patron to the Gladstone Artists Club. As a tribute to his patronage, in conjunction with the Hanson family, the Gladstone Artists Club held the first Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards and Exhibition in 1976.

The Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum became the custodian of the Art Awards in 1993.