What

Melville Contemporary is a biennial commissioning art prize open to professional artists based in WA. Artists are commissioned to create new artwork/s for group exhibition, in any artform or materials. The prize is non-acquisitive.

Why

The prize supports ambitious practice from WA contemporary artists by providing a paid opportunity to make and present experimental work to the public. We are particularly interested in work that is exploratory – where artists try new  things or work in unusual ways or ideas.

How

Artists are selected from a public callout – it is free and easy to apply – simply upload a concise CV, link to artist website and to socials. Applications are checked against selection criteria, and then passed to a judging panel who select five winners based on their previous arts practice. These winners are commissioned to produce new work for group exhibition at Goolugatup in September 2023.

Each artist is provided a $3,000 commissioning fee, as part of total prize package of $20,000+. Artists are also supported with curatorial assistance, promo, install, sales support, photographic documentation. At the exhibition opening, one final winner receives invitation to exhibit solo in 2024-25, an opportunity with $2,786 additional artist fees and a free residency.

Who

This prize is only open to professional contemporary artists – those with recognised exhibition history and/or relevant formal education. Artists must be Australian citizens or permanent residents and be based in WA or consider it home.

When

Applications open 18 Nov 2022 – 11 Jan 2023, and finalists are notified 25 Jan. Exhibition scheduled 23 September – 22 October 2023.

Where

Galleries 1 & 2 at Goolugatup Heathcote, 58-60 Duncraig Rd, Applecross WA 6153.