Darebin Art Prize Opening Event

Join us at the Opening Event & Prize Announcement for the Darebin Art Prize 2026

The Darebin Art Prize is back in 2026, join us at the beautiful Bundoora Homestead Art Centre for this national multi-medium acquisitive art prize celebrating excellence in contemporary visual art. This stand out exhibition brings artwork together across all media, from painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and craft, through to video art and more!

Sat 28 Feb | 6pm- 8pm

Free to attend, all welcome. Bookings encouraged

Featuring the announcement of the Darebin Art Prize Award recipient, speeches and light refreshments.

FINALISTS

Abbra Kotlarczyk | Abdul-Rahman Abdullah | Alexandra Kirwood & Stanton Cornish-Ward (Hiball) | Alice Wormald | Amalia Lindo | Amy Carkeek | Annika Koops | Ara Dolatian | Aylsa McHugh | Benjamin Bannan | Bianca Hester | Britt Salt | Callum McGrath | Carly Fischer | Caroline Walls | Casey Jeffery | Cyrus Tang | Damien Shen | Darcey Bella Arnold | David Rosetzky | Deanna Hitti | Ella Dunn | Elyas Alavi | Ena Grozdanić | Felix Oliver | George Cooley | Grant Nimmo | Guy Grabowsky | Hugo Blomley | Jacqui Shelton | Jessica Long | Joseph Blair | Julien Comer-Kleine | Katie Paine | Kym Maxwell | Mandy Quadrio | Matthew Asling | Nick Devlin | Nikki Lam | Oliver Hull | Pearl Austin | Pia Johnson | Setareh Hosseini | Shannon Lyons | Shoufay Derz | Simon Degroot | Steven Bellosguardo | Tara Denny | Thang Do | Tim Woodward | Virginia Keft | William Versace | Zainab Hikmet.

PRIZES

Participating artists are eligible to win the following prizes:

• First Prize (Acquisitive) $10,000 AUD
• People's Choice Award (Non-acquisitive) $1,000 AUD

JUDGES

Amita Kirpalani | Curator, Contemporary Art at National Gallery of Victoria

Nicholas Mangan | Artist and Associate Professor, Fine Art at Monash University

Sarah Werkmeister | Curator at Bundoora Homestead Art Centre

& YOU!

The People’s Choice Award will be judged by you our community! Voting will be open at the event and throughout the exhibition season at our front desk.

📍 Bundoora Homestead Art Centre, 7 Prospect Hill Drive, Bundoora 3083

Entry is free, all welcome

Getting here

— Venue is wheelchair accessible – disabled parking available (2 spaces); entry via ramp at main entrance

— Free car parking available (40 spaces) via onsite car park

— Bike parking also available

—Tram route 86, stop number 63 (Greenwood Drive) + approx 6 min (550m) walk

In the interest of caring for the health and well-being of other attendees, please do not attend if you feel unwell, even if your symptoms are mild.

Please note: general photography and short videos (for social media) will be recorded at this event for promotional use only and to document this event internally. If you prefer not to be photographed, please let a member of staff know once you arrive.

About Us

Bundoora Homestead Art Centre is the public art gallery for the City of Darebin, on Wurundjeri Woi wurrung Country. It is a centre for contemporary art, ideas, a public garden and café, housed in a Queen Ann style mansion.

Opening hours: Wed- Fri: 11am–4pm

Saturday: 10am–4pm

Contact us via bundoorahomestead@darebin.vic.gov.au for any queries.

Privacy Collection Notice

Darebin City Council collects, holds and manages personal information under the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) and health information under the Health Records Act 2001.

For Information on how we handle your personal and health information in accordance with these Acts, please see our Eventbrite Privacy Statement at https://www.darebin.vic.gov.au/Privacy-Statement or ask us for a copy by emailing privacy.officer@darebin.vic.gov.au

Image credit: Bundoora Homestead Opening Event 2025. Photography: Nicole Cleary