Presented by the Shire of Carnarvon, the Gascoyne Art Awards 2026 (GAA26) provides a special opportunity for the community to connect and engage with the Arts and celebrate the Shire of Carnarvon and Gascoyne Region as a place of creativity and culture.
The Gascoyne Art Awards has been running since 1984, with local arts organisation Gascoyne Arts Society (nee Gascoyne Arts Council). The Shire of Carnarvon is proud to take on the Gascoyne Art Awards as a biennial event at the Shire of Carnarvon Library and Art Gallery on 18 Egan Street, Carnarvon. The Shire of Carnarvon give credit to the Gascoyne Arts Society whose voluntary team have delivered 40 years of Art Awards in Carnarvon.
GAA26 is open to all Western Australian artists, aged 16 and above, including emerging and established artists. Entries can be submitted into one of the six categories and cover a variety of artistic mediums and styles including drawings, paintings, sculptures and ceramics.
The exhibition opens on 3 July 2026 and is held over eight weeks with a creative program, before concluding for the closing event and Gascoyne Arts Society People's Choice Award.
Carnarvon has a growing arts identity, with many organisations actively celebrating and supporting the sector. This includes the Shire of Carnarvon Library & Art Gallery, which creates exhibition opportunities; Gwoonwardu Mia Cultural Centre, which exhibits and supports First Nations artists; and the Carnarvon Community Art Hub, which opened in 2024 and has quickly become an arts incubator. These sit alongside more niche arts groups, such as Jubilee Hall Craft Shoppe, working with textiles and ceramics, as well as a growing number of individual arts facilitators sharing their practice
The exhibition aims to support artists to have their work seen and sold. It also serves to utilise art as a powerful connector that deepens understanding, carries stories, strengthens community, and contributes to the wellbeing and quality of life of our residents.
Gascoyne Art Awards 2026
Key Dates and Deadlines:
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Entries Open
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2 March |
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Entries Close
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31 May at 12am |
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Artwork Drop-off period
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11, 12 &13 June |
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Opening and Awards Night
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3 July |
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Exhibition Dates
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4 July -29 August |
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Awards Closing Event + People's Choice Award
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28 August at 5.30pm |
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Artwork Pick-up period
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17, 18 & 19 September |
2024 Gascoyne Art Awards Best Overall Winner 'Marg' by Gosia Taylor
Artwork Categories and Prizes
All entries meeting the entry requirements will be accepted and exhibited.
The Art Awards include the following prizes and seven categories:
- Best Overall Artwork (selected from all the entries and categories) - Cash Prize $8000
This is an acquisitive prize and will become part of the Shire of Carnarvon Art Collection.
- The People’s Choice (public voting during the exhibition period) - Cash Prize $2000
- Individual Category Prizes - Cash Prize $800
GASCOYNE SEASCAPE
Sponsored by Telomac Tackle and Camping
Artwork to depict a seascape from the Gascoyne region including locations from Shire of Carnarvon, Shire of Exmouth, Shire of Upper Gascoyne Junction and Shire of Shark Bay
GASCOYNE LANDSCAPE
Sponsored by Gascoyne Development Commission
Artwork to depict a landscape from the Gascoyne region including locations from Shire of Carnarvon, Shire of Exmouth, Shire of Upper Gascoyne Junction and Shire of Shark Bay
ABSTRACT ART
Sponsored by Carnarvon Community Art Hub
Includes art which does not depict visual reality but communicates meaning through lines, shapes, colours and forms.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL ART
Sponsored by Carnarvon Mitre 10
Includes sculptures, carvings, welding, other art forms that occupy physical space and can be perceived from all sides angles
HUMAN FORM
Sponsored by Carnarvon Medical Centre
Includes life drawings, portraits, depictions of a person/people
FIRST NATIONS ARTIST
Sponsored by Gwoonwardu Mia
Artwork can be 2D or 3D and must be created by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artist, residing in the Gascoyne Region.
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The participating artworks will be judged by three independent arts professionals to determine the winners. The judges’ names will be available in the catalogue and will be announced at the Awards Opening Night.
Terms & Conditions of Entry
Entry Form
Please complete a separate form for each artwork you are submitting (maximum of 4 pieces).
All sections must be completed (unless otherwise stated)
You can easily fill out the entry form online or download a copy to complete at your convenience here.
Creative Program
Details for the Gascoyne Art Awards 2026 creative program will be released closer to exhibition and available for bookings.
The Exhibition
Held at the Shire of Carnarvon Library & Art Gallery at 18 Egan Street, this free eight-week exhibition provides an opportunity for the community to explore the artworks, engage with the community, and purchase any of the exhibits which will be available for collection after the exhibition has closed.
The Art Awards attract the interest of a broad cross section of the community including WA Artists, local residents, youth, arts patrons and visitors to the region.
Catalogue
You can browse the 2024 artworks here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many artworks can I enter?
A total of four pieces of artwork can be entered per artist.
These can be entered in the same category or in a mix of categories, noting that only Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders residing in the Gascoyne Region can enter the Gascoyne Indigenous Artist Category.
Does the artwork need to be recently created?
Yes. All entries must have been created in the 12 months prior to the Closing Date and must be the entrant’s original work.
What is the maximum size of the artwork?
Two-dimensional artwork:
- The maximum size for all artworks to be hung is 1.5m x 1.5m in any direction including the frame.
- The maximum weight for all artworks to be hung is 10kg.
Three-dimensional artwork:
- Sculptural/three-dimensional artworks should not exceed 12kg and 2 cubic meters.
- Any works which exceed these limits require prior consultation with the art gallery and prior approval.
Does it cost to enter?
The entry fee is $40 per artwork, payable at the time of entry, either online or in person. The entry fee is non-refundable.
Are artworks for sale?
All artworks are for sale and the Shire of Carnarvon charges 20% commission on the sale of all artworks (as per Fees and Charges Schedule 2025-26).
Will my artwork automatically be accepted?
All artworks meeting the Terms and Conditions of Entry will be accepted for the Gascoyne Art Awards.
Any entries deemed unsuitable by the curator and/or are non-compliant with the conditions of entry will not be exhibited and the entry fee will be refunded, and the entry form cancelled.
Who judges the Awards?
All entries will be judged by two independent arts professionals who are experts in the field. The judges’ decisions will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into. The judges’ names will be available in the catalogue and will be announced at the Opening and Awards Night.
What is the overall Acquisitive Award?
The Best Overall winner prize is an $8000 acquisitive award, with the winning artwork becoming part of the Shire of Carnarvon Art Collection.
The remaining prizes are non-acquisitive and these artworks will be available for sale throughout the exhibition.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of our Category Sponsors:
For more information on the Gascoyne Art Awards 2026, please contact artgallery@carnarvon.wa.gov.au or phone our Art Gallery team on 08 9941 3388.