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. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2024 EXHIBITION OF WORKS  

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 - 28 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 sponsored by Multitrade Building Hire: $1,500
The Local Murri Artist Award sponsored by Elizabeth and Leo Zussino:$1,500
The Local Artist Award sponsored by Gladstone Area Water Board: $1500
The Installers Choice Award sponsored by Natalia Muszkat: $500

The QAL People’s 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 sponsored by QER - Queensland Energy Resources: $2000
• Second Prize sponsored by Gail Sellers: $1000
• Third Prize sponsored by Gladstone Area Water Board: $500

SECTION 2: Works on Paper
Drawing, watercolour, collage, mixed media, print, etc. on paper-based supports.
• First Prize sponsored by ConocoPhillips: $2000
• Second Prize sponsored by Central Apartment Group: $1000
• Third Prize sponsored by 4CC: $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 sponsored by Gladstone Ports Corporation: $2000
• Second Prize sponsored by Gladstone Area Water Board: $1000
• Third Prize sponsored by Ray White Gladstone: $500

SECTION 4: Digital Works
Photography, moving image, animation, soundscapes, etc.
• First Prize sponsored by Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre: $2000
• Second Prize sponsored by CQUniversity: $1000
• Third Prize sponsored by 4CC: $500

conditions of entry

View the The 49th Rio Tinto Yarwun & QAL Martin Hanson Memorial Art Awards Brochure attached at the bottom of the page for full conditions of entry. 

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 Gallery. 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.