Key Dates
Art Prize Launch & Entries Open
12 April 2026
Entries close
30th August 2026
Junior Winners (14 years and under) announced
23 October 2026
Winners announced
25 October 2026
Junior Exhibition (14 years and under)
23 October — 22 November 2026
Exhibition
25 October — 22 November 2026
Prizes
The Bridge Art Prize
$25,000
Acquisitive
Special awards
2 Highly Commended Awards
People’s Choice Award
$2,000
Juniors Winner
Under 18 years
$500 cash and $500 art supply voucher
Under 14 years
$500 cash
Juniors People’s Choice
Under 18 years
$250 cash and $250 art supply voucher
Under 14 years
$250 art supply voucher
Categories
Entries are encouraged from established and emerging Tasmanian artists as well as members of the community.
You can find more detail about the Terms and Conditions here.
2D
Photography, drawing, painting, printmaking
3D
Ceramics, textiles, sculpture, jewellery
Multimedia
This category is more open and allows for a response to the bridge in video and animation.
Junior Award Categories
Derwent Valley Arts is particularly interested in encouraging entries from young people.
Young people may enter work under any of the categories in their appropriate age range.
To enter the under 18 years category you must not have turned 18 before submissions close on Sunday 30 August 2026.
To enter the 14 years and under category you must not have turned 15 before submissions close on Sunday 30 August 2026.
Partners and Sponsors
McConnell Dowell
McConnell Dowell is known as the Creative Construction company. They build iconic, landmark assets and deliver major infrastructure projects across Australia, New Zealand and Asia. A recent example of their construction prowess was the construction of the New Bridgewater Bridge, the catalyst for the beginning of this unique Tasmanian art prize.
As the inaugural major sponsor of the The Bridge Art Prize, McConnell Dowell is proud to have an ongoing association with the arts community of the Derwent Valley, to continue to support young people interested in careers in art and design.
McConnell Dowell's Tasmanian office is located in Salamanca Place, Hobart.
Derwent Valley Arts
Derwent Valley Arts is a community-based, volunteer-run organisation established to enhance Tasmania’s Derwent Valley as a place to live by promoting the arts in the region.
Ecosmart Engage
Tasmanian based Ecosmart Engage works with Tasmanian industry, government, community organisations and locals to deliver inclusive, sustainable and practical stakeholder engagement outcomes.
Ecosmart Engage supports projects at every stage, from early planning and community engagement through to delivery, evaluation and communication.
We design and deliver meaningful engagement with communities, stakeholders and partners. This includes research, planning, facilitation and on the ground delivery, and evaluation, ensuring voices are heard and feedback is genuinely considered.