The Bald Archy Prize

Entry Details

Entries for the 2026 Bald Archy Prize are now OPEN! For your chance to win the $10,000 first prize or the $2000 People’s Choice Award, follow the steps below. Learn more about the prize and how it’s judged before you start painting HERE.

How to Enter

1. Complete your artwork.
2. Photograph your artwork. Use natural, even lighting (avoiding direct sunlight), position the camera square to the painting, and fill the frame so the artwork is captured clearly without glare or distortion.
3. Fill out the online entry form and pay the entry fee.
4. Package your artwork following our How to Package guide.
5. Deliver or post your artwork to the Watson Art Centre.

Key Details

• Entry Fee: $50 AUD per artwork (max. 2 artworks per artist)
• Delivery Address: The Watson Art Centre, 1 Aspinall St, Watson ACT 2602.
• Delivery Timeframe: Entries can be posted to the above address or delivered in person during shop opening hours between Tues 20th January and Sunday 1st Feb.
• Prize Focus: The Bald Archy Prize is awarded to the best comic or satirical portrait of an Australian distinguished in art, science, letters, politics, sport, or the media.
• Subject Matter: Your painting must take inspiration from events occurring in the twelve (12) months prior to 1 January 2026.
• Size Limits: Entries must not exceed 1000mm × 2000mm framed. One side must not exceed 1000mm.
  • Example: 1200mm × 1000mm is acceptable; 1200mm × 1200mm is not.
• Framing: Entries must be suitably framed with D-hooks for hanging. A stretched canvas is considered framed.
• Packaging: All entries must be packaged according to our How to Package Your Artwork guide.

Conditions of Entry

1. Artworks must be received by The Watson Art Centre at 1 Aspinall St Watson, ACT, 2602 before Sunday 1 February 2026. Entries can be posted to the above address or delivered in person during shop opening hours between Tues 20th January and Sunday 1st Feb.
2. Entries must not exceed 1000mm x 2000mm framed. One side must not exceed 1000mm.
   1. Example: 1200mm x 1000mm is acceptable, 1200mm x 1200mm is not acceptable.
3. Entries must be suitably framed for hanging, with D-hooks. A stretched canvas is considered framed.
4. Accepted mediums include paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolour or mixed media.
   1. Sculptures are not accepted
   2. Digital art is not accepted.
5. Applicants are responsible for shipping costs for delivery of all entries and the return of unsuccessful and unsold entries.
   1. Museum of the Riverina will return unsuccessful entries at the applicants’ expense.
   2. At the end of the Tour, applicants are responsible for arranging return transport and costs of unsold artwork. If this is not done within 90 days of notice, the painting will become the property of the Museum of the Riverina.
6. Two artworks may be submitted per artist.
7. A non-refundable fee of $50AUD applies per entry.
8. Entries must be clearly marked on the back of the artworks with the following:
   1. Applicants Name
   2. Title of Work
9. The applicant grants licence to Museum of the Riverina to reproduce the work/s for the following purposes:
   1. Publicity
   2. Critical review
   3. Promotion of the exhibition, including online
   4. Catalogue of the exhibition
   5. Non-lending of the exhibition
   6. Potential future publications and merchandising
10. The winning entry will not be sold and will become the property of the Museum of the Riverina in exchange for the advertised monetary prize of $10,000AUD.
11. Selected entries will tour for up to twelve (12) months following the initial exhibition launch.
12. All entries selected by the Museum of the Riverina must be available for sale at the conclusion of the touring exhibition.
13. Sale Price – The sale price for the Artwork must be inclusive of a 40% commission to be paid to the Museum of the Riverina.
14. Following the completion of the exhibition tour, entries will be made available for sale until a set date, to be determined by Museum of the Riverina.
    1. Where there are multiple prospective purchasers, sale of the entry will be decided by ballot.
    2. Unsold entries will be returned to applicants at the applicants’ expense (see 5b) or be made available for collection from the Museum of the Riverina.
15. All reasonable care will be taken with submitted works, however the Museum of the Riverina and exhibiting organisations will not be responsible for loss or damage to any work.
16. All judging decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.