Youth Art Prize
The Youth Art Prize is an open prize with all entries to be exhibited to local audiences! While prizes are awarded, the joy of experiencing artwork being displayed in a public exhibition is the real prize.
The competition is free to enter to all secondary school students who live, work or study in the Mildura Rural City Council municipality. One entry per person will be accepted. Entry is free.
Categories and prizes are as follows:
- Years 7 & 8: Prize up to the value of $200
- Years 9 & 10: Prize up to the value of $200
- Years 11 & 12: Prize up to the value of $200
- People’s choice – all entrants: Prize up to the value of $200
- 21 July to 8 August: Online submissions
- Thursday 21 August: Artwork drop-off at Mildura Arts Centre between 3pm and 4.30pm
- Friday 29 August: Celebration evening and announcement at Mildura Arts Centre.
- Friday 29 August to Sunday 5 October: Exhibition dates at Mildura Arts Centre
- 8 to 10 October: Artwork will be returned to schools unless other arrangement organised
Entries open from Monday 21 July 2025 to Friday 8 August 2025. Winners will be announced at the 2025 Youth Showcase on Friday 29 August at Mildura Arts Centre.
Artworks will be accepted across a range of mediums including drawing, painting, photography, sculpture and video/film/new media.
We ask that entries comply with the following guidelines:
- Artworks must be suitable for public exhibition
- All artwork is to be clearly labelled with name and contact phone number on the back of the artwork
- Drawings, photography or works on paper should be mounted on a sheet of black cardboard or mountboard
- Framing is not required. Where entrants have chosen to frame a work, we encourage Perspex instead of glass
- Paintings on board or canvas must be delivered with D-rings affixed to the rear of the artwork. Wet paintings will not be accepted
- Ceramics and sculptures should be smaller than 30cmx30cmx30cm. Artworks larger than this may not be able to be exhibited
- All artwork is entered at the artist’s own risk
- Video artworks and animations should be submitted on a labelled USB drive in a mp4 format
- Artworks larger than 1.5m x 1.5m will not be accepted
The judges’ decision is final, and no subsequent discussion will be entered into. Due to the expected high volume of entries, individual feedback cannot be given.
Entry of artwork to the competition constitutes the artist’s permission for competition organisers to reproduce the work without fee for the purpose of promotion in print and electronic media. No responsibility will be taken by competition organisers for damage or breakages of artwork. Every care will be taken by competition organisers to minimise risk of damage.
Council staff reserve the right to change, deny or remove any work of art, signage or wording placed in the gallery that is deemed inappropriate, unsuitable, poorly presented or offensive to public taste. Artists and their teacher/parent/guardian will be informed of this decision.
Winners will be announced at the Youth Showcase to be held at Mildura Arts Centre on Friday 29 August. Should this not be possible, the winners’ announcement will be released on Youth Engagement Services social media channels (Facebook and Instagram). The People’s Choice Award will be voted on for the duration of the exhibition and will be announced via Youth Engagement Services social media channels (Facebook and Instagram) and at the conclusion of the exhibition.
For more information email youthservices@mildura.vic.gov.au or contact 03 5018 8100.