Skip to main content

About the Ipswich Art Awards 2025

The Ipswich Art Awards return in 2025 for their 25th year, a proud milestone celebrating a quarter-century of artistic excellence in our region.

As the leading visual arts award in Ipswich, the event showcases the depth and diversity of talent across Queensland and beyond. In 2024, more than 300 artists submitted over 400 works for judging, with half of all entries coming from outside the Ipswich region. The exhibition welcomes over 1,500 visitors annually and continues to grow as a highlight on the city’s cultural calendar.

Entries for the Ipswich Art Awards 2025 open on 1 August. With nine prize categories and the prestigious Best of Show up for grabs, this is your chance to be part of a vibrant and longstanding celebration of the arts.

Whether you're an emerging artist or an established creative, we invite you to be part of this special 25th anniversary year.

Ipswich Art Awards 2025 Guidelines

Need help entering the Ipswich Art Awards?

The following sessions have been developed to assist artists entering the Ipswich Art Awards.
  • ARTiculate

    Attend one of the ARTiculate sessions below:

    • Artist and artwork statements, Saturday 2 August
    • How to photograph your artwork, Saturday 9 August
    • Entering Ipswich Art Awards, Saturday 16 August

Additional support

Still need assistance with your Ipswich Art Award 2025 entry?

Information for entering artists

With nine prize categories and the prestigious Best of Show up for grabs, the Ipswich Art Awards 2025 offer a unique opportunity to be part of a vibrant and longstanding celebration of the arts. Learn more about entry requirements in the tabs below.

To view the guidelines, please click here.

Entries will be accepted from 9:00am 1 August 2025 until 6:00pm 31 August 2025.

The entry form will request the following details:
  • name and contact details
  • title of artwork
  • artwork statement (up to 75 words)
  • artwork dimensions (size)
  • materials and media used for creation
  • photo of artwork
  • sale price for the piece
  • payment of the competition entry fee of $40.00

Please note that your competition entry fee does not include a ticket to the Ipswich Art Awards Exhibition Opening Night which will be held on 8 November 2025.

  • Work can only be submitted by an individual over the age of 15 years.
  • Artists can enter a maximum of two entries.
  • Entries must be submitted online at creatorsofipswich.com.au
  • Entry details are final at the time of submission. Details cannot be changed once the entry has been received.

The following sessions have been developed to assist with completing Ipswich Art Award entries.

ARTiculate
Sessions to guide artists with both artists and artworks statements, artwork photography and Ipswich Art Award entries have been developed.

  • Artist and artwork statements
    2 August 2025
  • How to photograph your artwork
    9 August 2025
  • Entering Ipswich Art Awards
    16 August 2025

Drop-in sessions
Attend a drop-in session at the Ipswich Art Workshop and get a professional photograph taken of your artwork to enhance your entry, receive help with submitting your entry form and have all your questions answered by our friendly Creative Industries team.

  • 28 August 2025 between 9:00am and 11:00am
  • 30 August 2025 between 9:00am and 11:00am

Ipswich Libraries
The Ipswich Libraries team are happy to assist with completing Ipswich Art Awards online entry forms.
Visit Ipswich Libraries for your nearest location.


Still need assistance with your entry?
Email creativeindustries@ipswich.qld.gov.au

  • The artwork must be the artist's own unaided creation.
  • The artwork must have been completed within the past 12 months immediately preceding 31 August 2025.
  • 2D artwork must not exceed 110cm on its longest side including the frame.
  • 3D artwork must be able to be moved by a maximum of two persons.
  • New Media includes digitally created works and should not be printed onto a canvas and not exceed 4GB in size and 4 minutes in length.
  • The artwork must not violate or infringe upon the legal rights of any other person, including the copyright, intellectual property rights, trademark, or moral rights of any person.

Artists are invited to submit work under the following categories:

  • Painting: Acrylic – $1,500
  • Painting: Oil – $1,500
  • Painting: Watercolour – $1,500
  • Drawing and Pastels – $1,500
  • Three Dimensions – $1,500
  • Photography – $1,500
  • Print Making (non-digital) – $1,500
  • Mixed Media – $1,500
  • New Media – $1,500
  • People’s Choice Award – $1,500

All entries are automatically considered for the Best of Show Award with a prize of $3,000. Please note that the winning Best of Show artwork is not eligible to win any other category.

  • Artists are to deliver works for exhibition between 31 October 2025 and 1 November 2025 between the hours of 10:00am and 4:00pm.
  • Artwork must be delivered by the artist or a representative of the artist. Artwork cannot be delivered by courier or post.
  • Each artwork must have the name of the artist, and the title of the artwork fixed to the back of the artwork.
  • It is the responsibility of the artist to protect their artworks for storage before hanging.
  • Artwork must be suitably framed or on a stretch canvas.
  • Artwork must be ready for hanging with 'D' hooks and wire positioned on the rear.
  • All New Media entries should be submitted on a USB 2.0 or 3.0 in the file format of MP4 or AVI.

On Saturday 8 November 2025, Ipswich City Council will be hosting the Awards Night of the Ipswich Art Awards 2025 including the awards presentation.

Artists and their guest/s are required to purchase a ticket at time of entry. Tickets to attend the Awards Night are $20.00.

Tickets include entertainment, canapés and beverages. Artists under the age of 18 who have submitted an entry may attend if accompanied by an adult.


All artwork is for sale and can be purchased by members of the public for the entire exhibition including Awards Night.

A 20 per cent commission is retained by Ipswich City Council (council) to support the cost of administrative processing. Artists will be notified of a sale within 48 hours of sale. The notification of sale will require artists to supply bank details to Ipswich City Council to receive payment. Please refer to Ipswich City Council Privacy Statement.

Payments will be processed by Ipswich City Council up to 45 days after the submission of required information to council.

Ask an expert

Have a question about submitting your entry for the Ipswich Art Awards 2025? Ask a Creative Industries expert before entries close on 31 August 2025.
Loading Conversation

Past exhibitions

Each year, over 300 artists submit more than 400 works for judging, with around half of all entries coming from outside the Ipswich region.

The Ipswich Art Awards draws over 1,500 visitors annually and continues to grow as a highlight on the city’s cultural calendar.

Check out the past Ipswich Art Award Exhibitions below.


2024 Ipswich Art Awards

Previous Ipswich Art Awards

Acknowledgement of Country

Ipswich City Council respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners, the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul People of the Yugara/Yagara Language Group, as custodians of the land and waters we share. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, as the keepers of the traditions, customs, cultures and stories of proud peoples.



Phone: (07) 3810 6666

Email: communityengagement@ipswich.qld.gov.au

Postal: PO Box 191, Ipswich QLD 4305, Australia

Join the Community Panel

Want to be more involved in topics that matter to you and share your experiences to help build an Ipswich where we all want to live?