Conditions of Entry
Please read the Conditions of Entry because they change every year.
The Hornsby Art Prize is a competitive, non-acquisitive competition and exhibition. The Hornsby Art Prize is organised and sponsored by Hornsby Shire Council and delivered in partnership with Hornsby Art Society, through the Hornsby Art Prize Project Team. The Hornsby Art Prize Project Team shall hereafter be referred to as the Organisers.
1. ELIGIBILITY
1.1 The Hornsby Art Prize is open to all permanent Australian residents aged 18 years and over (as at 12 September 2025) with the exception of participating judges, and Hornsby Shire Council staff and their immediate family.
1.2 All artworks must be original work commenced and completed by the entrant within the last twenty-four (24) months (August 2023 – August 2025).
1.3 Works must not have been exhibited in a previous art competition, award or prize within NSW.
1.4 To be eligible for the Hornsby Shire Local Artist Award, artists must be a current resident of the Hornsby LGA.
2. ENTRY SUBMISSION AND FEE
2.1 Entries to the 2025 Hornsby Art Prize opens Monday 2 June 2025 and closes at 5pm (AEST), Thursday 7 August 2025.
2.2 The entrant must nominate their work to fit into one of the following five categories: Painting, Sculpture, Drawing, Printmaking or Photography.
2.2.1 Printmaking is defined as the production of images using various techniques of multiplication, done by the hand of the artist. The Hornsby Art Prize accepts prints utilizing (partially or totally) the three major printing processes: relief, intaglio and surface (including lithography and stencil methods). Prints are considered to be original, even though they can exist as multiples. Every print within an edition will be considered as one original work. This means that if one print in an edition has previously been exhibited in an art prize or competition with NSW, the entire edition (including the AP or PP) will be considered to have been exhibited. Therefore the print, regardless of its number within the edition will be outside the Conditions of Entry for the Hornsby Art Prize. Fine art photography, reproduction prints, digital art, documentary photography (of performance art) and pigment printing or Gicleé printing will not be accepted within the Printmaking category of the Hornsby Art Prize.
2.3 Entries (including a digital photograph of the artwork) are to be submitted online at www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/artprize.
2.4 One image is required to complete an entry submission. Digital photographs of artwork must be in jpg format and maximum 5MB.
2.5 An entry comprises of a completed online submission including digital photograph of the artwork and payment of a non-refundable entry fee of $40.00 (including GST) per artwork. Payment of entry fee is to be made online at the time of submitting the entry.
2.6 All submissions require an artist statement, maximum 150 words.
2.7 There is a maximum of two entries per person. A separate entry form needs to be completed for each entry.
3. PREPARATION OF ARTWORK
3.1 Any works proposed to be hung must be appropriately mounted with D rings. Please contact the Arts/Cultural Development Officer for further information if required.
3.2 Works with hanging wire, inappropriate cord, screw eyes, other protruding metal or wire will not be accepted. No wet artworks will be accepted.
3.3 A label with artist’s name, phone number, title of work and price must be marked clearly on the back of each artwork. These details must be the same as the entry form.
3.4 Where the artwork consists of multiples, a photograph illustrating the set-up of the multiples must be attached to the work.
3.5 The Hornsby Art Prize Project Team reserves the right to disqualify an artwork without recourse or refund if the artwork does not meet the abovementioned presentation standards.
4. SIZE AND WEIGHT OF ARTWORK
4.1 The maximum size of 2-dimensional works (including the framing) entered in the Prize is limited to one hundred and twenty five centimetres (125cm) width/height and a maximum of 15kg. Sculptural works are limited to eighty-five centimetres (85cm) width/height/depth and 15kg.
5. EXHIBITION OF ARTWORK
5.1 The Hornsby Art Prize Finalists’ Exhibition will take place at Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre, 25 Edgeworth David Avenue, Hornsby. It will run from Friday 12 September to Sunday 28 September, 2024.
5.2 All works selected for the exhibition will be listed on Hornsby Shire Council website on Friday 15 August 2025 at www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/artprize
5.3 Artists will also be advised by email of their inclusion in the exhibition.
5.4 All works selected for exhibition must remain on show for the duration of the exhibition. No early collection can be accommodated.
5.5 Curatorial responsibility for the Hornsby Art Prize Finalists’ Exhibition is maintained by Hornsby Shire Council. All artworks are hung in the best relative position as determined by the Arts/Cultural Development Officer and the Hornsby Art Society.
5.6 The Hornsby Art Prize Finalists’ Exhibition Award Ceremony will be held on Friday 12 September 2024 at Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre, 25 Edgeworth David Avenue, Hornsby.
6. DELIVERY OF ARTWORK
6.1 All artworks selected for exhibition must be delivered to the Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre on Monday 1 September and Tuesday 2 September, 10 – 4pm. Commercial couriers may pre-arrange to deliver artworks. If circumstances prohibit Artists from delivering their work/s at the set time, then Artists are advised to contact the Arts/Cultural Development Officer.
6.2 All delivery and collection costs are the responsibility of the artist.
6.3 Works not delivered at the designated time will be ineligible for exhibition and disqualified from final adjudication.
7. COLLECTION OF ARTWORK
7.1 Artists must collect their work/s from Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre on Sunday 28 September 2025 from 4.30pm-5.30pm, or on Monday 29 September 2025 9am – 4.30pm.
7.2 If circumstances prohibit Artists from collecting there work/s at the set time, then Artists are advised to contact the Arts/Cultural Development Officer to make alternative arrangements.
7.3 Work/s not collected by 1 December 2025 will be disposed of at the discretion of Hornsby Shire Council.
8. SELECTION AND ADJUDICATION
8.1 The judging panel will select artworks for exhibition based on the digital image submitted as part of the entry process. The final adjudication will take place once the exhibition has been installed.
8.2 All prizes will be awarded on the advice of the judges, with the exception of the People’s Choice Award. The judges’ decision is final.
8.3 Voting for the People’s Choice Award will close on Sunday 28 September 2025 at 2.30pm. The winner will be notified by phone and email and announced through Council’s social media channels.
8.4 Entrants shall not offer any gifts, hospitality or other inducements to judges or the Hornsby Art Prize Project Team for the duration of the competition and exhibition. The offer of any gifts, hospitality or other inducements to judges may result in the disqualification of the entrants’ artwork from the competition.
9. PRIZES
9.1 Prizes will be detailed at www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/artprize
10. SALE OF ARTWORKS
10.1 All artworks exhibited in the Hornsby Art Prize are for sale with the price clearly marked on both the back of the artwork and in the entry submission.
10.2 The Hornsby Art Society will coordinate the sale of works and charge a commission of 25%. If GST should be applied to the sale of your artwork, please include it in the total sale price.
11. INSURANCE
11.1 The Organisers will take all reasonable care but will not be responsible for any loss or damage to any artwork whilst in their custody. The Organisers do not insure the works whilst in transit, in storage or on exhibition. Artists must arrange their own insurance to cover potential damage, loss, or theft.
12. COPYRIGHT
12.1 Copyright for submitted works remains the property of the entrant.
12.2 Finalist entrants grant the Organisers’ non-exclusive license to use images of their work, in print and online, within Australia, for a three-year (3) period, for the purpose of promoting the Hornsby Art Prize, and
12.2.1 Perpetuity for the purpose of the creation of a permanent, public digital record of the Hornsby Art Prize Finalist’s Exhibition.
12.2.2 Where an artist objects to the inclusion of their work in this publicly available digital record, they may email the Organisers to arrange the removal of the image.
12.3 When an image is used, the artist and title of the work will be acknowledged.
12.4 Images will be used for non-commercial purposes only.
12.5 If Hornsby Shire Council would like to use your artwork, other than for promoting Hornsby Art Prize, Hornsby Shire Council will contact the Artist directly to seek approval.
13. ATTRIBUTION
13.1 Artists will be credited both online, and alongside their physical artworks, when on display.
14. PRIVACY
14.1 All personal information collected by the Organisers will be used solely for the purpose of the delivery of the Hornsby Art Prize.