All Connections to Unley Art Prize

All Connections to Unley Art Prize invites South Australian artists, of all ages and career stages, to create artworks on their personal connection to the City of Unley.

Entries open 5 December 2022 for artworks in two and three dimensional mediums, including painting, photography, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, glass, collage, new media and more.

A major prize of $5,000 is on offer to the overall winner, with an Elected Members Choice Award of $500 to be awarded to the finalist selected by the City of Unley's Elected Members.

All finalists will be exhibited at the Hughes Gallery in June 2023 and on the City of Unley website.

Please read all competition details below before submitting your entry. Entries close 5 April 2023.

Complete an online entry form

Prize categories

Artworks must fit within the theme of “All Connections to Unley.”  

All Connections to Unley Art Prize offers one open category.

Open (artists at all career stages, including hobbyists, emerging artists, mid and long term career artists), $5,000, non-acquisitive.

  • A $500 award is offered for the Elected Member’s Choice Award for artworks selected by the City of Unley Councillors and Mayor. 

Note: Non-acquisitive means the winning artwork will not be retained by the City of Unley, but will be for sale during the exhibition or returned to the artist at the conclusion of the exhibition if unsold.

Exhibition & display

The Hughes Gallery will exhibit finalists' artwork in June 2023. 

Finalists’ artworks will be exhibited in an online gallery on the City of Unley website from 12 June 2023. 

The winning artworks of the major prize and Elected Member’s Choice Award will be reproduced for public display as posters on public bins in the City of Unley. 

The winner will be invited to create a body of artwork for exhibition at a City of Unley location in 2024. 

Important dates

5 December 2022

Entries open 

5 April 2023

Entries close

9 May 2023
10 May 2023

Finalists notified via email
Finalists published on City of Unley website

 6 June 2023

Delivery of selected finalist works to Hughes Gallery

 9 June 2023 Exhibition Launch and announcement of major prize winner
 9 – 30 June 2023 Finalist Exhibition dates
 3 July 2023 Collection of unsold works from Hughes Gallery
 10 July 2023 Announcement of the Elected Member’s Choice Award winner

Medium & dimensions

Works in any medium are accepted.

Artworks can be 2 or 3 dimensional.  The winning work will be reproduced in 2 dimensional, portrait format.

2 Dimensional works must not exceed 100cm x 100cm (no side may be greater than 100cm).

3 Dimensional works must not be larger than 1 square metre.

All works must be ready for display with plinths, display equipment, AV equipment and hooks.  These will not be supplied by the organisers.

Judging

All works submitted will be subject to a pre-selection process by the judging panel based upon the digital images submitted.  The pre-selected finalist list will be published on the City of Unley website from 10 May 2023. Finalists will be notified if they have been shortlisted via email on 9 May 2023.  All notification and correspondence will be via email.  Finalist artworks will be exhibited at the Hughes Gallery from 9 June - 30 June 2023.

The judging panel will select the prize-winning work of art at the exhibition from those works selected as finalists and exhibited in the finalist exhibition at Hughes Gallery. The winners will be announced at the exhibition launch event on Friday 9 June 2023.

Selection is made from submission material and is based on which entries best respond to the curatorial theme of All  Connections to Unley.

The panel decision is final and can not be appealed.  Feedback will not be provided to non-shortlisted entrants.

The winning artworks in each category will be awarded the prizes as above. Artworks will be reproduced in portrait layout on public bins on major roads in Unley from July 2023 and on the City of Unley website.

The Judging panel will be:

  •  Associate Curator, Art Gallery of South Australia
  • Curator, Unley Museum
  • City of Unley Cultural Development Coordinator
  • City of Unley Elected Member

Entries

In preparation for submitting your entry online, please have ready:

  • Your artwork’s title and size (in cm)
  • The medium/s used
  • Your retail price (the total amount you wish to sell your work for, including 22% commission)
  • A quality digital image - remember the judging panel will be selecting finalists based on the image provided, so please ensure the image shows your artwork as clearly as possible. Images must be 300dpi and no larger than 10MB.  For further advice on images please email unleyartprize@unley.sa.gov.au

Entries must be submitted online using the All Connections to Unley Art Prize entry form.

Online entry form

If you have any queries please email unleyartprize@unley.sa.gov.au or phone 8372 5111.

Disclaimer

The judges decision is final and can not be appealed.  Feedback on non-shortlisted artworks is not provided.
 
Artists are responsible for the safety of artworks during transport and delivery to the venue. Upon receipt, the artworks will be inspected for damage prior to being accepted. Damaged works will not be accepted and will not be included in the finalist exhibition.
 
While the City of Unley will take all precautions to ensure artworks are handled, stored and exhibited safely, the City of Unley does not insure artworks whilst on exhibition or take responsibility for damages, theft or loss while the works are in its custody.  Artists are encouraged to insure artworks included in the exhibition at their own cost. 

In submitting the online entry, the entrant acknowledges that they have read, understood and accepted all the terms and conditions.

Detailed terms & entry criteria

  1. The All Connections to Unley Art Prize is for artworks that are inspired by, depict, or are an interpretation of Unley. Entering artists will provide a 60 word max statement, outlining how the artwork relates to the theme of All Connections to Unley.
  2. Entry is open to all ages, for artists at all career stages, including hobbyists, emerging artists, mid and long term career artists. 
  3. Entries open 5 December 2022 and close 5pm, Wednesday 5 April 2023.  Late entries will not be accepted.
  4. The All Connections to Unley Art Prize is open to artists residing in South Australia during 2022-23.
  5. City of Unley employees, Elected Members, and immediate family members of the organisers are not eligible to enter.
  6. The All  Connections to Unley Art Prize is for 2 and 3 dimensional artworks or works that can be reproduced in 2 dimensional portrait format.
  7. All Mediums accepted.
  8. Finalists will be selected by the judging panel from digital images uploaded by the artist at the time of entry.  Finalists will be exhibited at Hughes Gallery.  Artworks must be available for the period 5 June to 3 July 2023.
  9. By entering the prize the artist agrees that their artwork may be reproduced by the City of Unley and the media, without fee, for the purpose of critical review, advertising and publicity, promotional materials and catalogues for the City of Unley, the prize and future events, creating non-commercial archive and non-lending reference or database and for display on council property, including public bins, as per the prize incentive. The winning artworks will be reproduced in 2 dimensional portrait format and placed on public bins in the City of Unley.
  10. Works selected for the finalist exhibition that are not cured or complete when received will not be exhibited and will be returned to the artist immediately and removed from the finalist shortlist.
  11. Artworks entered must be original.
  12. Artworks may be produced by an individual, collaboration or group and must be created solely by the entrant(s).
  13. 2D artworks must not exceed 1m x 1m. This measurement refers to the maximum length of each side, ie no side may exceed 1m. The limitation does not refer to area, total of sides or average length.
  14. 3D artworks must not exceed 1 square meter and no side may be longer than 1m.
  15. Multi-panel pieces are accepted as one work and must not exceed 1x1m in total, ie no one collective side may exceed 1m.
  16. All artworks entered must be created between 2022 and 2023.
  17. Photographs and prints of original artworks are not eligible.
  18. Entry is limited to one entry per artist.
  19. All costs associated with framing, preparing the artwork for exhibition and transport to and from the exhibition venue are the responsibilities of the artist.
  20. All artworks must be for sale.  The Hughes Gallery will retain 20% commission, plus GST on any artworks sold.
  21. City of Unley reserve the right to exhibit finalist artworks only, as selected by the judging panel.
  22. The judging panel decision is final and may not be appealed.
  23. Individual feedback regarding non-selection of artworks will not be provided.
  24. Entry is online only, via the City of Unley website. Images must be uploaded and entry form submitted using the online form.
  25.  Finalists will be announced 10 May 2023 and will be published on the City of Unley website.  Finalists will be notified by email on 9 May 2023.