08 Feb The 2025 Young Archie arts competition is open for entries
The Art Gallery of New South Wales invites budding artists between the ages of 5 and 18 to submit a portrait for the Young Archie competition.
The Art Gallery of New South Wales is calling for entries for the much-loved annual competition. Budding young artists from around Australia are invited to submit a portrait of someone special to them who plays a significant role in their life.
Children and teenagers are encouraged to unleash their creativity to produce an imaginative portrait that is ‘painted from life’, like with the Archibald Prize, where artists have a sitting with their subject. You may also create the portrait from memory or take your own photograph to use for reference.
There are four age categories:
- 5-8 year olds;
- 9-12 year olds;
- 13-15 year olds; and
- 16-18 year olds.
Entries to the 2025 competition will be judged on merit.
The theme is a portrait of a person who is special to the entrant, who is known to the entrant and who plays a significant role in their life.
Entries to the 2025 competition will be judged by a guest judge (artist Jumaadi) and Victoria Collings, Art Gallery of NSW family programs manager, according to the following criteria: the relevance of the submitted artwork to the theme, as decided by the judges; artistic interpretation of the theme, as decided by the judges; originality of the submission.
Young Archie 2025 finalists and honourable mentions will be announced on 5 July 2025.
One winner will be chosen in each category and finalists from each category will be exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW
Finalists from each category will be exhibited at the Gallery and on the Gallery website.
One winner will be chosen in each category. Artworks that received an honourable mention are displayed on the Gallery website and at the SH Ervin Gallery in the Rocks alongside the Salon des Refusés.
Prizes:
Each of the four winners will receive: a cash prize of $200 from ANZ, an art hamper (valued at $150 or more), a family pass to a paid exhibition at the Gallery (valued at $60 or more), and an Archibald 25 catalogue (valued at $19.95) – total prize value is at least $429.
Each of the remaining finalists will receive: a cash prize of $50 from ANZ, an art pack (valued at $25 or more) and an Archibald 25 catalogue (valued at $19.95) – total prize value is at least $94.95.
Entries are now open and close on 3 March 2025 at 5pm.
Entry forms available online
Entry forms are now available at AGNSW
