Art Awards

The Art Awards are one of Queensland’s most prestigious regional art events and is eagerly anticipated each year. 

This year the Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum is thrilled to host the 51st Rio Tinto Yarwun & QAL Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards.

MARK THE CALENDAR

Calling for submissions:
10am-4pm, Tuesday to Friday, 6-9 October and 10am-1pm, Saturday, 10 October 2026

GRAGM Closed for Installation:
12-30 October 2026

Exhibition Opens:
10am, Saturday 31 October 2026

Judge's Floor Talk and Illustrated Lecture:
10.30am, Saturday 31 October 2026

Official Opening and Awards Presentation:
6pm, Saturday 31 October 2026

QAL People's Choice Awards voting available:
10am, Saturday 31 October 2026

Exhibition Closes:
2pm, Saturday 23 January 2027

Collection of Works:
10am-4pm, Monday to Friday, 25-29 January and 10am-1pm, Saturday 30 January 2027

2026 CATEGORIES

The 51st Rio Tinto Yarwun & QAL Martin Hanson Memorial Art Award - $15,000

The Pamela Whitlock Memorial Acquisitive Award - Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum $5,000
The Pieter Groen-int-woud Memorial Young Emerging Artist Award - Multitrade $2,000
The Local Murri Artist Award - Leo & Elizabeth Zussino $2,000
The Local Artist Award - Central Apartment Group $2,000
The Installers Choice Award - Queensland Energy Resources $2,000

The QAL People’s Choice Awards
SECTION 1: Easel Works - QAL $500
SECTION 2: Works on Paper - QAL $500
SECTION 3: Three Dimensional and Fibre Works - QAL $500
SECTION 4: Photography and Digital Works - QAL $500

SECTION 1: Easel Works
Mixed media, acrylic, collage, oil, paint, etc. on non-paper-based supports, e.g. canvas, masonite, etc.
First Prize - $3,000
Highly Commended - Central Queensland University $1,000

SECTION 2: Works on Paper
Drawing, watercolour, collage, mixed media, print, etc. on paper-based supports.
First Prize - $3,000
Highly Commended - Australia Pacific LNG $1,000

SECTION 3: Three Dimensions and Fibre Works
Pottery hand built/wheel thrown, sculpture including maquettes, carving, assemblage, timber, metal, stone, plastics, fibre, etc.
First Prize - Gladstone Ports Corporation $3,000
Highly Commended - Friends of the Theatre $1,000

SECTION 4: Photography and Digital Works
Photography, moving image, animation, soundscapes, etc.
First Prize - $3,000
Highly Commended - McDonalds Boyne Island $1,000

2026 Judge 

Rachael Parsons, Director of New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM)

Rachael is an Australian curator, educator and academic, currently Director of NERAM. With more than 15 years’ experience, she has worked as an independent and institutional curator across university, commercial, public and artist-run spaces.

Prior to becoming Director, Rachael was NERAM’s Manager, Exhibitions and Curatorial, where she delivered diverse exhibition programs, including curating HINTON: Treasures of Australian Art, a permanent salon display drawn from NERAM’s significant Howard Hinton Collection.

Previously, Rachael was Curator, Digital Media at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Precincts, where she curated exhibitions of contemporary digital, new media and technology-based practice by local and international artists. She also curated the inaugural program at Side Gallery and was Co-Director of Brisbane artist-run initiative Vegas Spray, contributing to platforms including BNE Art and the Brisbane Experimental Arts Festival. Rachael has taught art theory and Creative Industries at QUT since 2008.

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 Hanson Awards in 1993.