Local Contemporary Art Prize

Now in its eleventh year, the Local Contemporary Art Prize is the premier local art prize for the Sunshine Coast region.

This highly anticipated annual exhibition showcases, and celebrates, contemporary artists residing on the Sunshine Coast — from emerging, to mid-career, to established visual artists.

Artists living within the region, working across all mediums, are invited to submit 2D and 3D works for the prize, and forty finalists will be selected for the exhibition — the winners sharing in $17,000 prize money.

Exhibition Dates

11 Apr to 8 Jun 2025

Tue–Fri, 10am–4pm
Weekends, 10am–2pm

Get to know your local artists: Local Contemporary 2025 Speed Profiles

Want to know who's who and what they do?

Make sure you come along to a night of fast-paced presentations by 12 of this year's exhibiting Local Contemporary Art Prize finalists!

When: Wed 7 May, 6-8pm
Where: Caloundra Regional Gallery

Bankfoot House Paint Out with Marvene Ash

Join Local Contemporary Art Prize finalist, Marvene Ash, at Bankfoot House for an intimate en plein air experience at the heritage listed site.

Enjoy morning tea with scones on arrival while Marvene speaks to her work and artistic practice. Then if you would like, take a tour of the historic house before settling in to sketch and paint on the scenic grounds.

When: Fri 9 May, 10am-1pm
Where: Bankfoot House, Glass House Mountains

Strange and Unusual: Thinking outside of the box

Kids, come and learn to manipulate cardboard into complex 3D forms with Local Contemporary Art Prize Finalist Samantha Taylor.

This hands-on children's workshop looks at the use of cardboard sheeting to make complex sculptural 3 dimensional forms. Children will explore the theme of 'strange and unusual'.

During this creative workshop children get to play with craft and abstract-form making.

Suitable for ages 7+

Cost: $25 Limited places, bookings required.

All materials are provided. Please wear suitable art-making clothes.

When: Sat 10 May, 10am-12pm
Where: Caloundra Regional Gallery

Creative Team

Guest Judge — Claire Sourgnes, Director Ipswich Art Gallery
Gallery Director — Jo Duke
Exhibition Officer — Rachel Weldon
Senior Curator Collections — Nina Shadforth

Acknowledgements

Local Contemporary Art Prize is presented by Caloundra Regional Gallery and the Friends of the Regional Gallery, Caloundra.

The prize is supported by Sunshine Coast Council, Mary Henzell Investments, Local Agent Caloundra, The Friends of the Gallery and Caloundra and Community Bank Caloundra, Bendigo Bank.