The Bundanoon Community Association, in collaboration with its subcommittee Arts Bundanoon, is proud to present the first-ever Bundanoon Portrait Prize and Exhibition — a vibrant new celebration of portraiture and the people of the Southern Highlands.

This exciting event will bring together artists from across Australia to capture the faces, stories, and spirit of the Southern Highlands, past and present. Whether you're a professional artist or an emerging talent, the Bundanoon Portrait Prize offers a unique opportunity to showcase your work in one of New South Wales' most picturesque and creative communities.

The exhibition will run from 6th –20th March 2026 at the White Gallery, Bundanoon, with a gala opening on 6th March from 6–8pm, featuring live music, refreshments, a guest speaker, and the announcement of the major awards.

What Makes This Prize Special?

The Bundanoon Portrait Prize is more than an art competition—it is a community celebration. The competition is open to all Australian-based artists working in two-dimensional portraiture (non-photographic), with a focus on subjects who have a connection to the Southern Highlands region of NSW. Entries can feature historic figures or contemporary locals, capturing the people who have shaped or continue to shape our vibrant community.

Selected works will be professionally exhibited and promoted throughout the Southern Highlands, Canberra, and Sydney, supported by a print, radio, and social media campaign.

Our Judges

Our judging panel is composed of respected leaders in the Australian art world, bringing credibility and prestige to the Bundanoon Portrait Prize:

• Jane Cush – Jane Cush graduated from ANU School of Art with 1st class honours in 1998. After finishing art school, Environmenta was a sculpture park she curated in the Southern Highlands for 5 years. She became director of Goulburn Regional Art Gallery for 8 years. In 2016 Jane took up the role of Artistic Director at the Canberra Glassworks , then acting CEO before returning to the Southern Highlands. In 2020 she was appointed Director and Curator of the SHAC in Robertson, a role she held for 4 years.

• Pam Tippett – studied drawing and painting at the Studio Simi in Florence, Italy. She has been painting professionally for most of her adult life. Although mostly known for her still life paintings, she has been a finalist in the Archibald, Doug Moran and Portia Geach portrait prizes and painted commissioned portraits. She was awarded an Elizabeth Greenshields Grant in 1978, won the Eutick Memorial Still Life Award in 2010, and was invited Artist-in-Residence at the Margaret Olley Art Centre at the Tweed Regional Gallery in 2019. She has numerous solo exhibitions and participated in many group shows. Her work is in private and public collections in Australia and overseas. She is represented by Australian Galleries, Sydney and Melbourne.

• Yvette Dal Pozzo – Director of the Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, who will join our Gala Opening on 6 March to announce the winners of the 2026 Bundanoon Portrait Prize.

Awards and Recognition

We are delighted to offer the following prizes:

• First Place: $4,000

• People’s Choice: $500 (announced at close of exhibition)

• Aspiring Artist (under 18 years): $100

Winners will be recognised on opening night, with all exhibiting artists having the opportunity to display and sell their work (a 15% commission applies on sales).

Entry Guidelines

• Works must be on paper, canvas, or board (no photography), completed within the last 12 months.

• No AI (artificial intelligence) generated image accepted.

• Maximum size: 1m x 1m (framed).

• Artists must provide a digital jpeg image (300dpi) of their work, a completed entry form, a $30 entry fee, and a short artist statement (up to 250 words) describing the subject and story behind the portrait.

• Works must be delivered ready to hang and labelled with the artist’s name, artwork title, and sale price or “Not For Sale”.

• Judges decision is final and no further correspondence will be entered into.

  For full details and to download the application form - click HERE

or contact the team at:

📧 bundanoon.portraitprize@bca.asn.au

📞 Danita Phelan: 0492 810 201 | Linda Bottari: 0418 157 180

Key Dates

• Entries open: 1st August 2025

• Entries close: 1st February 2026

• Notification of acceptance: 16 February 2026

• Exhibition: 6th –20th March 2026

• Opening Gala Night: 6th March 2026, 6–8pm

• Collection of unsold works: 23rd March 2026

With thanks to our sponsors: