Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Awards

About

Taking place on Larrakia Country, the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA) encourages entries from all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from across the continent. The Awards were founded by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) in 1984 and remain the longest running Awards dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art and artists. Since 1992, Telstra have been Principal Partner for Telstra NATSIAA. The 2026 Telstra NATSIAA marks the 43rd year that MAGNT has presented these annual Awards and Exhibition, and this year’s entrants, finalists and winners will shape another chapter of the Awards’ story.

Open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, Telstra NATSIAA is a non-acquisitive Award that is free to enter and encourages artists to submit an artwork of their choice in one of the Award Categories. Telstra NATSIAA has no set theme; these Awards celebrate the validity and cultural diversity of contemporary Indigenous artistic expression in all its forms.

Telstra NATSIAA awards a total of $190,000 in prize money each year. The overall Telstra Art Award offers prize money of $100,000 (excl. GST) and is awarded to the Artwork considered by the judges to be the most outstanding Artwork in the Exhibition.

The following Award Categories offer each Award Recipient prize money of $15,000 (excl. GST):

• Telstra General Painting Award
• Telstra Bark Painting Award
• Telstra Work on Paper Award
• Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (sponsored by Telstra)
• Telstra Multimedia Award
• Telstra Emerging Artist Award

In addition to the above Award Categories is the Telstra People’s Choice Award, which is a non-monetary Award chosen by popular vote. The People’s Choice Award will be open to the public for voting for the duration of the Exhibition.

Key dates

Entries open: Monday 10 August 2026

Entries close: Monday 22 February 2027

Please see website for further timelines around selection process, artwork delivery, exhibition, judging etc.

Eligibility and conditions of entry

WHO CAN ENTER

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Individuals and/or collectives of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artists.
• Members of the Telstra NATSIAA Selection Panel and Judging Panel are not eligible to enter the Awards, nor are Telstra and MAGNT employees and their immediate relatives.

COMPLETING THE ENTRY FORM

• An Artist can apply as an individual, completing their Entry Form themselves and representing themselves in all Telstra NATSIAA matters. Telstra NATSIAA requires the Artist to be the primary contact and MAGNT will liaise with them directly. If requires, MAGNT will provide translator support. Artists can also provide a secondary contact, however if the secondary contact is an organisation or entity, they must be a current Code Signatory Member of the Indigenous Art Code (IartC).
• An Artist can apply through an Agent who will complete the Entry Form on their behalf. The Artist has consented and selected their Agent to be the contact person in Telstra NATSIAA matters such as correspondence with MAGNT and Telstra. Where this Agent is an organisation or entity, the Agent must be a current Code Signatory Member of the Indigenous Art Code (IartC).
• The Artist must agree to the Declaration on the online Entry Form.

NUMBER OF ENTRIES

• Each Artist is permitted to submit 2 applications to Telstra NATSIAA:
  • one Artwork created solely by an individual, AND/OR
  • one Artwork created in collaboration with other Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Artists as a collective.
• An Artist must choose the Category to enter their Artwork into. An Artist can enter their individual and/or collaborative Artwork/s in any single Category that they are eligible for.
• In the case of collaborative Artworks, the nature of the collaboration needs to be specified on the Entry Form. A collaborative Artwork is only eligible if it has been created by 2 or more Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Artists and the work is their principal artistic vision and creative output. The details of each of the Artists must be included on the Entry Form and include their name, place of residence, date of birth and language group/s.
• Telstra NATSIAA understands that some Artists work with assistants for technical support to produce their work. This assistance may be provided by Indigenous or non-Indigenous people. Assistants must not alter or affect the Artist’s creative content or artistic intent. The Artist must confirm that any individual who has assisted an Artist, has done so under the Artist’s direction. The Artist may provide details of any Assistant/s they wish to acknowledge or thank in the relevant part of the Entry Form.
• If an Artist chooses to list an Assistant/s, you must identify if they are to be acknowledged in the Telstra NATSIAA Exhibition and catalogue captions. Telstra NATSIAA will only liaise with the Artist/s for all matters related to Telstra NATSIAA.

EMERGING ARTIST ELIGIBILITY

MAGNT defines ‘Emerging’ to mean any early-career Artist actively working within the first 5 years of their professional practice. ‘Professional practice’ may mean they are pursuing new and varied opportunities, dedicating time to making and developing work, showing or performing in exhibitions and at events, increasing public and industry awareness of their practice and reputation, seeking representation and beginning to develop networks and collaborate creatively. When completing the application, the Artist/s will be prompted to select the number of years of professional practice they have engaged in and supply their Curriculum Vitae (CV).

• If the Artist does not comply with any of the above eligibility requirements, the Artist will be ineligible to enter Telstra NATSIAA.

ARTWORK CRITERIA

Artworks will need to comply with the following criteria:

• The Artwork/s must be the original work of the Artist.
• The Artwork/s must be the property of the Artist. Proof of ownership may be required.
• The Artwork/s must be the finished and final Artwork and must not be altered or further worked on from the time of entry. The Artwork that arrives at MAGNT must be identical to the photograph submitted with the application.
• Whilst Artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in the production of the Artwork/s, it cannot be the substantial or overriding input into the creation of the work. If an Artwork/s uses AI (in whole or in part) in the generation of an image, MAGNT requires that the artist(s) describes in their Artist’s Statement how it was used as well as describing other non-AI inputs that were also used in the creation of the image. This statement will then be used to assess whether AI has been the substantial or overriding input into the creation of the work.
• The Artwork/s cannot exceed (H) 300 x (W) 300 x (D) 300 cm. This must be the maximum overall measurement of the Artwork and is inclusive of all pieces/components in its intended configuration for display.
• The Artwork/s must have been completed within 12 months of the close of entry date of Monday 22 February 2027.
• The Artwork/s must be available for public display for the duration of the Exhibition.
• The Artwork/s, including limited-edition prints, must not have been previously publicly displayed or entered into an exhibition, award, competition or festival prior to entering Telstra NATSIAA.
• Images of the Artwork/s must not be posted on social media, online, or published in other media following entering Telstra NATSIAA. It is a requirement that the Artwork/s is not referred to on social media as entered in Telstra NATSIAA. If the Artwork/s is selected for the Telstra NATSIAA Exhibition, the Artwork/s must remain under strict media embargo until Saturday 26 June 2027.
• The Artwork/s must be delivered to MAGNT in good, clean, undamaged condition and ready for display. Artwork received in poor or damaged condition, that differ from the images and description of the Artwork/s included with the application to Telstra NATSIAA, may be excluded from the Exhibition and will be returned to the Finalist at their own expense. The description on the Entry Form should state if deterioration, change or decay is in any way part of the essence of the Artwork/s.

RESPECT AND ICIP

• Where the Artwork/s embodies collective, inherited cultural expressions and knowledge that belong to a particular Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community or language group, the Artist/s must confirm they are respecting cultural protocols, and are a Custodian or have the permission of the Custodians to use such cultural expressions or knowledge. The Artist/s can choose to complete a Notice of Custodial Interest in the Entry Form to communicate the wishes of Custodians in regard to the Artwork.
• If the Artwork does not comply with all eligibility requirements, the Artist/s and their Artwork/s will be ineligible for Telstra NATSIAA

AFTER ENTERING TELSTRA NATSIAA

• The Artist/s whose Artwork/s is/are selected for Telstra NATSIAA will be required to enter into an Artist Agreement between the Artist/s and MAGNT.
• The Artist/s whose Artwork/s is/are selected to receive an Award will be required to enter into an Award Recipient Agreement between the Artist/s and MAGNT.
• Award Recipients are encouraged to attend the Media Preview, Awards Ceremony and associated events during the weekend of the Awards Ceremony. If an Award Recipient is unable to attend, they may send a representative instead. MAGNT will reimburse up to $2,000 (excl. GST) per Award Recipient to cover travel and accommodation expenses. MAGNT will also offer assistance for ground travel in Darwin to attend the events for Telstra NATSIAA.

Enquiries and support

Entry Form:

https://magnt.smartygrants.com.au/2027TelstraNATSIAA

Please contact the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory if you need assistance regarding submission of the Entry Form or interpretive services. Key terms are explained in 15. Definitions on the wbsite.

Exhibitions Coordinator

Telephone: (08) 8998249

Email: natsiaa@magnt.net.au

Please refer to the website for further details.