Halloran Contemporary Art Prize 2027: NSW and ACT Artists, A$27,000 Total Awards
The Jervis Bay Maritime Museum & Gallery is accepting entries for the Halloran Contemporary Art Prize 2027, a contemporary art award exploring the museum's Halloran Collection: Science and the Sea. The 2027 theme is Between Light and Reason, and artists may work in contemporary visual media including photography, moving image, installation, sculpture and other artistic formats where the official installation rules can be satisfied. The prize pool totals A$27,000 across the main acquisition award and two further prizes.
Local eligibility and closing time
Entrants must be over 18 and PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF NEW SOUTH WALES OR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY. This is confirmed by a mandatory declaration in the museum's own online entry form, not inferred from the exhibition's physical location. Entries close at 5pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time on Monday 30 November 2026, and the organiser says late submissions will not be accepted. Applicants from other states or overseas should not submit without explicit written confirmation of eligibility.
Art brief and original-work requirement
The entry must be an original work created specifically in response to the 2027 theme and the museum's Halloran maritime-science collection. The online declaration also requires that the work has NOT previously been exhibited. Interpretations can investigate how marine history, scientific observation, light, instruments, voyages or methods of knowing relate to contemporary perception. A photographer or video artist should also consult the conditions for technical exhibition, presentation format, copyright and physical delivery; simply uploading an example video does not guarantee the museum can exhibit it.
Costs, award structure and sales commission
The entry fee is A$50 FOR EACH ARTWORK, with a separate submission form required for each piece. First prize is A$20,000, acquisitive: the winning work becomes part of the designated collection under the competition rules. Runner-up receives A$5,000 and People's Choice A$2,000. A work available for sale needs a retail price incorporating the museum's 30% commission, as explained directly in the entry form. The main award is not a separate A$20,000 cash prize plus a second purchase payment.
Required attachments and entry process
Use the museum's linked SupporterHub entry form, entering artwork title, medium, dimensions in millimetres, a statement of up to 300 words and a biography of up to 200 words. Upload an image of the work no larger than 2MB, an optional second detail image and a PDF CV or artist résumé. Submit one work per completed paid form. Before payment, confirm the museum's guidelines for eligible media, delivery and image/artist rights, especially if the work is installed or time-based.
Organizer and past editions
Jervis Bay Maritime Museum in Huskisson preserves and exhibits maritime history and the Halloran science-and-sea collection. Its museum website includes the 2025 Halloran Contemporary Art Prize finalists catalogue and images of the exhibition at Vera Hatton Gallery. The current 2027 announcement and entry/payment form are directly linked from the institution's own domain, helping artists verify that fees and prizes are genuine features of an established museum-led programme.
Primary organiser links
This article provides a summary. To avoid misunderstandings, please be sure to check the official page for full details.
Information verified: 19 October 2026.
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