Key Dates & Information


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Key Dates for the 2026 Art Award:

  • Entries open – Sept 2025
  • Artists’ Retreat at New Norcia – Fri 10 Oct (pm) until Sun 12 Oct (am)
  • Mandorla 40th Anniversary Celebration & Mandorla Gallery Opening, New Norcia – Sat 11 Oct, 2-4pm
  • Strengthen Your Submission online workshop – early Feb 2026 date TBC
  • Entries close – 7pm AWST Wed 18 February 2026
  • Entrants notified – last week of March
  • Artwork drop off – Mon 4 May pm, or prior via coordination with Curator
  • Exhibition Opening – evening of Fri 8 May
  • Exhibition open to the public – Sat 9 May until Sat 30 May
  • Artist talks – Sat 22 and 30 May
  • Closing Party & Announcement of People’s Choice Winner – Sat 30 May
  • Mandorla Art Award Touring Exhibition, for selected works only – June to Sept 2026, exact dates TBC


2026 Prizes:

  • Mandorla Art Award Prize – Acquisitive: $30,000
  • Highly Commended Catholic Archdiocese Prize: $7,000
  • Highly Commended The Rev’d John Ward Memorial Prize, sponsored by Perth Anglican Diocese: $7,000
  • Emerging Artist Prize, sponsored by The University of Notre Dame Australia: $7,000
  • People’s Choice Prize – provided by Benedictine Community: $2,000
  • New Norcia Artist Residency Prize: 1-month residency at the New Norcia Museum and Art Gallery on the site of the New Norcia Benedictine Monastery; $10,000 fee as well as accommodation, studio space and meals.

How to Enter

Before entering please find out more about the theme and carefully read the Terms & Conditions

The terms & conditions outlines whether you are eligible, the entry requirements, restrictions for artworks and other important information, including about the selection process, sale of artworks and touring exhibition. To submit an entry please complete the Online Entry Form ONCE ENTRIES OPEN IN SEPTEMBER 2025

ENTER THE AWARD HERE

All fields are to be completed and the submission includes: 

  • $50 entry fee. Payment will be made online at the time of submission.
  • Artist’s Statement: a synopsis of the submitted work to a maximum of 800 character (including spaces).
  • Artist Biography: an overview of the artist’s practise and key achievements, to a maximum of 800 character (including spaces).
  • Up to 3 quality images of the artwork for consideration. At least one image must be of the entire work and at least one image must be a detail of the work.
  • Artists working in VR, video and other screen-based mediums must supply a link – and password if required – to a streaming or file sharing service, where an excerpt of no longer than 4 minutes of the artwork can be viewed.
  • Artists wishing to be considered for the Emerging Artist Prize must meet the criteria outlined in the Terms & Conditions and check the box in the entry form.
  • Artists wishing to be considered for the New Norcia Artist Residency Prize must read the information page carefully first, and then check the box in the entry form. Entry requires:
    1. uploading a 2-page CV
    2. Providing a short statement outlining any previous experience undertaking artist residencies and describe how the artist would approach the New Norcia Artist Residency.
    This must be completed at the time of submitting the Mandorla Art Award entry.

Information for Finalists

If you are selected as a finalist in the Mandorla Art Award Exhibition you will be notified by late March.

The exhibition will be held at Holmes à Court Gallery in Gooyaman | West Perth and artworks must be delivered or freighted to the gallery prior to installation on 4 May 2026. The Curator will provide further information to finalists about delivery requirements.

To ensure your artwork is ready for installation:

  • 2D Artworks must be fitted with two large ‘D’ rings (20mm) that are 1/3 down from the top.
  • Artworks must be delivered in clean packaging material and labeled with the artist’s name and the artwork title on the back of the work.

Freighting of artworks is arranged by the artist, at the artist’s expense.

At the end of the exhibition, artists will be notified prior to Collection Day if their artwork has sold or selected to be part of the Touring Exhibition.

Public Programs

Mandorla provides a number of educational opportunities for artists to further understand 2026 theme and to prepare a strong artwork entry. This includes a forum, retreat, and webinar. Please see our events page for more information.

The Mandorla Art Award Exhibition will include a dynamic program of artist talks, curator tours and celebrations. Follow us on social media or subscribe to our newsletter to hear about these.

ENTER THE AWARD HERE