Tidal.26 Application Form

THE AWARD

The tidal.26: City of Devonport Tasmanian Art Award is a biennial, acquisitive award exhibited at the Devonport Regional Gallery. Artists are invited to submit 2 or 3-dimensional artworks that reflect on the theme of tidal – the natural, cultural, personal, or political concerns related to the sea and coastal regions. 

To enter, Artists must identify as Tasmanian by either birth, or by having demonstrated a strong and ongoing association with Tasmania for no less than two years. Alternatively, Artists must adequately demonstrate a strong connection to Tasmania, which should be evident in the work entered in the Award. 

THE AWARD AIMS TO:

  • Encourage experimentation within and across media.
  • Present a stimulating and diverse exhibition of contemporary Tasmanian art practice for the Devonport Community and visitors to the region.
  • Promote excellence in contemporary visual art that reflects on natural, cultural, personal or political concerns related to the sea, coastal regions and coastal communities.

The $25,000 Major Acquisitive Award  

The Award is sponsored by the Devonport City Council and the Friends of the Devonport Regional Gallery. The Award will be presented at the opening of the exhibition. 

The $1,500 non-acquisitive People’s Choice Award  

The Award is sponsored by One Agency Collins Real Estate. The Award is selected by the viewers of tidal. The Award will be announced at the conclusion of the exhibition. 

SELECTION AND JUDGING

Judges 

The judging panel consists of three Tasmanian recognised art experts, who will select the finalists’ works and will then determine the winner of the Major Award. This year’s judges are: 

Jonathan McBurnie, Director, Queen Victoria Museum and Gallery

Melissa Smith, Artist and Roving Curator, Arts Tasmania

Caine Chennatt, Director, Curatorial and Cultural Collections, UTAS

Application Deadline: Monday 14 September 2026

Finalists Announced: Friday 16 October 2026

Delivery of Selected Artworks: From Wednesday 18 November to Wednesday 25 November 2026

Exhibition Opening & Announcement of Winning Artist: Friday 4 December 2026

Exhibition Dates: 5 December 2026 – 13 February 2027

Judges’ Floor Talk: Saturday 6 December 2026: TBC 

  • Entrants must submit work in accordance with the conditions set out in this application form. If these conditions are not met the application will not be considered.
  • Entrants must be identified as a Tasmanian by either birth or have been a resident of Tasmania for no less than 2 years prior to December 2026, or the artist needs to adequately demonstrate a strong connection to Tasmania, which should be evident in the work entered in the Award.
  • Submitted work must have been completed in the 12 months prior to December 2026.
  • Entries representing partnerships between individuals will be accepted on the understanding that each partner’s contribution is deemed equal.
  • Devonport City Council employees including their family members, and members of the DCC Public Art Committee and the DRG Advisory Committee are ineligible to enter the Award. 

All entrants are invited to attend the opening of the exhibition in-person. The winner, or their representative is not required to attend the opening in-person to accept their Award.

All entries must include 

  • Completed entry form.
  • One A4 page biography.
  • Artist statement of 150 words or less relative to the theme of tidal. (Generous count of characters on website)
  • 2D works: One reproduction of applicant’s work on USB, or email attachment as a JPEG or TIFF 25 cm shortest side at 300dpi (max file size 10MB). 
  • 3D works: Two reproductions of applicant’s work on USB, oaar email attachment as a JPEG or TIFF 25 cm shortest side at 300dpi (each max file size 10MB).

 

Video artists can provide a link to their work through the application form. 

Image file must be labelled: First name_Surname_Title of art work_Year. 

  • $40.00 per entry fee (Visa/Mastercard).

All media is allowed.2D works must be no larger than (h) 200 cm x (w) 200 cm x (d) 20 cm including frame.  

3D works must be self-supportive and no larger than 2 Cu M.  

Moving images as MP4 files provided on a USB are eligible, and if selected, will be displayed on a monitor screen or gallery wall not exceeding (h) 200 cm x (w) 200 cm.

FINALISTS
Entrants who are selected for the finalist exhibition are wholly responsible for the delivery and collection of works to and from the Devonport Regional Gallery within the specified dates. It is the sole responsibility of finalists as to whether works are to be delivered by hand, by commercial courier, or by Australia Post to the exhibition venue. As a public institution Devonport Regional Gallery cannot offer the shortlisted works for sale. However, any sale enquiries will be passed on to the artist or their representative. We do not charge a commission for this.

INSURANCE
The insurance of art works in transit to and from the exhibition venue is the sole responsibility of the selected finalists. While stored prior to judging and while on exhibition in the Devonport Regional Gallery, insurance will be provided by the Devonport City Council.

COPYRIGHT
The Devonport City Council will publicly recognise the authorship of works included in the final exhibition and in any publicity and/or any future promotion of the Award. The rights of reproduction for artwork given to the Devonport City Council are limited to the above purpose only.

Application Form:

Click here to view a copy of the form before applying