Entries are open to Australian residents for a national contemporary art prize sponsored by
Abbotsleigh and commemorating one of its alumni, Grace Cossington Smith, a pioneer of modernist
painting in Australia.
Artists are invited to submit original two dimensional artworks that reflect the theme of
Making
Connections.
The three prizes
- Abbotsleigh Grace Cossington Smith art award $25,000 acquisitive
- Abbotsleigh Grace Cossington Smith early career artist award $5,000 non acquisitive
- Abbotsleigh Grace Cossington Smith local artist award $5,000 non acquisitive
and
A finalist will be selected for a 3:33 Art Projects* collaboration.
Key dates
- Online entry opens Saturday 1 November 2025
- Entries close Tuesday 14 April 2026
- Selected artists listed on website 23 May 2026
- Delivery Saturday 4 to Saturday 14 July 2026
- Exhibition Saturday 18 July to Saturday 15 August 2026 10 am-4 pm (closed Sunday)
- Opening and awards presentation To be announced
- Collection Tuesday 18 to Saturday 22 August 10 am-4 pm
How to Enter
- Each applicant must complete the entry form online, provide an image of their work and
confirm
acceptance of the entry conditions.
- Entry is via our website. You will receive email confirmation of your online entries. Please
phone or
email the Gallery if support is required.
- Entry forms must be completed by the artist or their official representatives.
- Entries must be submitted by midnight Tuesday 14 April 2026.
Entry information and submission fee
- Two entries may be submitted (one entry form for both). A non-refundable $50, inclusive GST,
entry
fee or
$90 for two entries.
- A 1% surcharge is levied on all credit card payments to cover the bank fees incurred.
- An entry may be a multiple work, providing the works adhere to the size and weight limits of
the
award.
- It is acceptable to submit one entry representing a partnership between artists, with the
understanding
that the artists' contribution is equal.
- All works entered in to the prize must be available for display for the entire duration of
the
exhibition.
- Each entry must consist of:
- Entry form including artist statement and information about the work: title, medium,
dimensions,
selling price including GST and ABN of artist.
- A 300 DPI minimum JPG image, maximum 5MB where possible. Images should be saved with
the
following
details as the file name: surname_firstname_artworktitle.jpg
Eligibility
- The Abbotsleigh GCS art award is open to all permanent Australian residents aged 18 years
and
over (at 14
April
2026).
- Entries must be the original work of the entrant, executed during the two year period prior
to
the
closing date: between April 2024 and April 2026, and not have won other art prizes.
- Entry warrants the artwork is original and does not infringe copyright, moral rights or
other
rights
of a third party.
- The work entered in the award must be the unencumbered property of the entrant.
- Eligible finalists will be considered for the Abbotsleigh GCS early career award.
- Eligible finalists will be considered for the Abbotsleigh GCS local award.
- The successful finalists will only be awarded one prize.
- All finalists, with interest nominated on the entry form, will be eligible for the
3:33 Art Projects Collaboration.
Subject
Artists respond to the theme of Making Connections and the artist's statement in the entry
form should explain the connection/s made. The theme is inspired by the art of Grace Cossington
Smith whose work reveals her connections to family, to domestic life, the local Turramurra
area,
the changing city of Sydney and ultimately to the modern art of Europe. Her work provides a
glimpse into her world; ordinary connections that she represents in her observant line and
jewels of
colour.
Media, size and restrictions
- The Abbotsleigh GCS art award is open to original works that are two dimensional (2D) in any
media eg.
painting,
drawing, printmedia, photography, textile.
- Two dimensional is here defined as a work that has a depth of no greater than 10 cm.
- The work should be no larger than 2 metres in width or height, and must not weigh more than
15
kg.
- Works requiring electricity will not be accepted.
- Works made with Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not be accepted.
- Works that cannot be hung from the Gallery clip rail, hook and wire hanging system
(usually with D rings) will not be accepted. Works will not be taped or pinned to the
Gallery
wall.
Selection, notification and judging
- Works submitted for the Abbotsleigh GCS art award are viewed as digital files by a
selection/judging panel,
comprising a mix of artists, curators and academics, one of whom is the Director of the
Grace
Cossington Smith Gallery. The panel will be announced prior to the submission date.
- Approximately 40 works will be selected by the judges for the Abbotsleigh GCS art award
exhibition.
- Notification of the selected finalists is through the Abbotsleigh website
https://www.abbotsleigh.nsw.edu.au/grace-cossington-smith-gallery,
and email to selected
artists,
at
the conclusion of the finalist selection phase.
- The judge's selection of finalists and winner will be final and no correspondence
will be entered into regarding choice of artworks.
- By completing the online entry form the entrant warrants that an artwork listed as an entry
is
the
sole and unencumbered property of the artist.
Indemnity and insurance
- The Gallery will exercise all reasonable care when handling, storing and hanging artworks
entered
but does not take responsibility for any damage, theft or loss of the artwork during
storage,
handling, transport and delivery.
- Each participant is responsible for acquiring his/her own insurance and arranging
appropriate
freight
to/from the Gallery.
Delivery and preparation for hanging
- Finalists' artworks must be presented ready for exhibition i.e. mounted and framed, if
necessary,
with
appropriate hanging devices, such as D hooks attached between 50 to 100 mm from the top of
the
work,
that allow the artworks to be hung on the Gallery's clip rail hanging system.
- Installation instructions should also be included (if applicable).
- The artist's name and title of work must be clearly marked on the back of each artwork.
Collection and return of entries and delivery location
- Delivery of all entries selected for exhibition is between Saturday 4 to Saturday 11 July,
10 am-4 pm (closed Sunday)
- Finalists' artworks will only be accepted if free of freight charges and other charges. The
Gallery
will NOT pay for any costs incurred in the delivery of any entry.
- All entries must be available for continuous display at the Gallery for the entire period of
the
exhibition.
- GCS Gallery reserves the right to further assess all works delivered and make a final
selection
for
the exhibition.
- Exhibitors must collect their artworks between Tuesday 18 to Saturday 22 August 10 am-4 pm.
- Works not collected by Monday 28 September 2026 shall be disposed of at the discretion
of
the
Director of the Grace Cossington Smith Gallery unless alternate arrangements have been made
with
the
Grace Cossington Smith Gallery.
- The finalists' artworks are to be delivered to:
Grace Cossington Smith Gallery at
Abbotsleigh
Gate 7 1666 Pacific Highway
Wahroonga NSW 2076
T. (02) 9473 7878
Acquisitive Prize
- The artist declared the winner of the 2026 Grace Cossington Smith art award agrees the work
shall
become the property of Abbotsleigh and part of Abbotsleigh's Grace Cossington Smith Gallery
art
collection.
Consideration of long-term conservation and management issues will be
taken into account in the awarding of the Prize.
- The artist of the winning artwork acquired by the Abbotsleigh GCS Gallery confirms there is
no
restriction on
title passing to Abbotsleigh and the Grace Cossington Smith Gallery. The artist maintains
copyright
over all commercial reproduction.
Reproduction/ copyright
- Artists selected for the 2026 Abbotsleigh Grace Cossington Smith Art Award Exhibition will
provide
images of their
work and will allow the work to be reproduced by print and electronic media during the
advertising
and promotion for the Exhibition, after the Exhibition and for archival uses. The
Abbotsleigh GCS
Gallery
will
acknowledge authorship of works.
- Artists warrant they are the copyright owner of all submitted artworks and that their
artworks do
not infringe moral rights or other rights of third parties.
Privacy
All personal information received will be used solely for the organisation of the Abbotsleigh GCS
art award.
Sale of artwork
- Artworks exhibited in the Abbotsleigh GCS art award exhibition may be available for sale.
- Prices listed on the entry form are considered final, and will not be altered after
submission.
- Unrepresented artists will have a commission of 33.3% deducted from the selling price of
work.
- Artists with commercial Gallery representation should include on the entry form the name of
the
Gallery with which the relevant 50/50 split commission arrangements will apply.
- Any other agreements should be made known to the Gallery.
- Artists should be aware of their GST obligations and commitments to representing commercial
galleries
or agents prior to determining the sale price of their artworks and completing the entry
form.
If
you require advice on this matter, please call the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) on 132
478.
- Payment will be made direct to the artist and not to a third party.
- The artist must provide their ABN before the Gallery can make payment for sales. If the
artist
does
not have an ABN they will be required to submit a Statement by Supplier form, available from
the
ATO.
Definitions
- We define an early career artist as someone in the early stages of their professional career
as
an
artist, usually within the first five years of professional practice or within 10 years of
graduating from an undergraduate art degree (or equivalent).
- Local artists must have lived in the Hornsby or Ku-ring-gai Shire areas within the two years
prior to
the closing date of 14 April 2026.
- 3:33 Art Project is an initiative of Max Germanos https://www.333artprojects.com
