Prize details

We are now calling for entries. Please use this entry form.

The Local Contemporary Art Prize 2025 is a highly anticipated annual exhibition at Caloundra Regional Gallery, showcasing the breadth of contemporary arts practice from emerging, mid-career and established visual artists residing on the Sunshine Coast. 

The annual prize, originally known as Local Artist - Local Content, was created by the Friends Regional Gallery Caloundra Inc. (‘Friends’) in 2014. Now in its eleventh year, the prize is seen as one of the premier art prizes in the Sunshine Coast region.  

Caloundra Regional Gallery in partnership with The Gallery's Friends, invites artists living within the Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions and working across all mediums to submit 2D and 3D works for the Local Contemporary Art Prize 2025. 

Forty finalists will be selected for the exhibition and winners will share $17,000 in prize money, thanks to this year’s sponsors: Friends of the Gallery, Mary Henzell Investments, Local Agent Caloundra and Community Bank Caloundra - Bendigo Bank. 

The winning artwork will also be acquired into the Sunshine Coast Art Collection. 

Award categories

Entries in the Local Contemporary Art Prize 2025 are eligible to be considered for:

• Best in Show Acquisitive Award: $10,000 prize 
• 2D Excellence Award: $2500 prize – Mary Henzell Investments
• 3D Excellence Award: $2500 prize –  Local Agent Caloundra
• People’s Choice Award: $2000 prize – Community Bank Caloundra - Bendigo Bank and Friends of the Gallery 

To be considered for selection, entrants must comply with all entry instructions and conditions.

Key dates

• Entries open Monday 25 November 2024
• Entries close Sunday 9 February 2025 
• Finalists announced Friday 14 March 2025
• Finalist works delivered on to Caloundra Regional Gallery between Wednesday 2 and Fri 4 April 2025 between 10am and 4pm 
• Winners announced Thursday 10 April 2025 at the official exhibition opening, 6 – 8pm
• Exhibition dates: Friday 11 April to Sunday 8 June 2025
• Unsold works must be collected Tuesday 10 - Wednesday 11 June 2025, between the hours of 10am and 4pm from the Caloundra Regional Gallery