The Art Awards are one of Queensland’s most prestigious regional art events and is eagerly anticipated each year. 2025 will mark the 50th anniversary of The Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards.
KEY DATES 2025
Calling for submissions - 14 to 18 October 2025 GRAGM Closed for Installation - 20 October to 7 November Exhibition Opens – 10am, Saturday 8 November 2025 Judge’s Floor Talk & Illustrated Lecture - to be announced Official Opening and Awards Presentation - 6pm, Saturday 8 November 2025 QAL People’s Choice Awards Voting - to be announced Art Awards Artist Talks - to be announced Exhibition Closes - 2pm, Saturday 7 February 2026 Collection of Works - 9 to 14 February 2026
CATEGORIES & PRIZES
The 50th Rio Tinto Yarwun & QAL Martin Hanson Memorial Art Award: $15,000
The Pamela Whitlock Memorial Acquisitive Award: $5,000 The Pieter Groen-int-woud Memorial Young Emerging Artist Award: $1,500 The Local Murri Artist Award: $1,500 The Local Artist Award: $1,500 The Installers Choice Award: $500
The QAL People’s Choice Awards: $500 each SECTION 1: Easel Works SECTION 2: Works on Paper SECTION 3: Three Dimensional and 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: $2,000 Second Prize: $1,000 Third Prize: $500
SECTION 2: Works on Paper Drawing, watercolour, collage, mixed media, print, etc. on paper-based supports. First Prize: $2,000 Second Prize: $1,000 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: $2,000 Second Prize: $1,000 Third Prize: $500
SECTION 4: Digital Works Photography, moving image, animation, soundscapes, etc. First Prize: $2,000 Second Prize: $1,000 Third Prize: $500
conditions of entry
Non-Negotiable
$20 entry fee (incl. GST) per artwork, non-refundable. Acceptable payment methods are cash, eftpos, or Australia Post Money Order. Payment by cheque will only be accepted if the cheque is issued by a current member of the Australian Paper Clearing System (Cheques). To check if your bank is a member, visit https://auspaynet.com.au/about/apcs-members. If your cheque is issued by a bank that is not a current member, it will not be accepted, and another payment method will be required before your entry can be accepted in the Art Awards.
Entrants must be 15 years of age or over at time of
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).
Entry fee completed entry form and labelled artwork are to be received by 1pm, Saturday, 18 October 2025. Late entries will not be accepted.
All works will be viewed by the The Judge's decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Eligibility
All works and concepts must be the original, unaided work of the entrant and created during the twelve months prior to 18 October 2025. Workshop projects, commercially produced kits, designs, etc. or works completed more than 12 months prior to 18 October 2025 are not eligible.
All entries are eligible for The Martin Hanson Memorial Art Award, The Installers Choice Award and applied for section
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).
The Young Emerging Artist Award: The entrant must be aged 15 to 25 years, as at 18 October 2025.
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 18 October 2025.
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.
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 exhibition.
The Installers Choice Award: Works in all sections are eligible. Recipient of the Award will be selected by Gallery and Museum staff and
Section4: Entries in Section 4 Digital Works will be shown on televisions on a looping 'show reel' with other 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
Maximum artwork display dimensions (including frame and/or mount):
Height
Width
Depth
Time
2D Works (including frame)
1500mm
1500mm
Three Dimensional and Fibre Works
1500mm
1500mm
1500mm
Digital Works
10 mins (incl credits)
Artworks exceeding these dimensions may be rejected and/or excluded from judging.
Diptych or Triptych works are considered a single artwork and must meet the maximum display dimensions as per above.
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.
Works must be able to be safely handled by up to two people.
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.
Electrical components must be tested and tagged.
Delivery and collection:
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 of postage charges.
Complete submissions should be addressed to: 2025 Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards, Gladstone Regional Art Gallery and Museum, Cnr Goondoon and Bramston Streets, Gladstone, Qld, 4680.
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
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.
The Judge’s decision is final and binding. No correspondence or discussions regarding any decision will be entered into.
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.
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.
All works must remain in the exhibition until the specified collection
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.
A commission of 20% (+ GST on commission) will be added to all works for sale.
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.
2025 Judge
Dr Simon Degroot is Program Director, Visual Arts at Queensland College of Art and Design, Griffith University. He has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions around Australia and completed large-scale mural installations in Brisbane, Sydney, and Perth. In his work, Simon explores the possibilities of everyday surfaces in our environment in their historical and social dimensions through painting, with particular focus on the history of abstraction and architectural detail in Australian suburban contexts.
Simon's work is held in public and private collections including Artbank Australia, Caboolture Regional Art Gallery, Lyon Housemuseum Melbourne, and Moreton Bay Regional Council Art Collection. He is represented by This Is No Fantasy Gallery, Melbourne; and Jan Manton Gallery, Brisbane.
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.