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Sir John Sulman Prize

Awarded annually for 'the best subject/genre painting and/or murals/mural project executed during the two years preceding the [closing] date …’

Value: $30,000 (non-acquisitive)

Medium: oil, acrylic, watercolour or mixed media

Other information:
A genre painting is normally a composition representing some aspect or aspects of everyday life, and may feature figurative, still-life, interior or figure-in-landscape themes. A subject painting, in contrast to a genre painting, is idealised or dramatised. Typically, a subject painting takes its theme from history, poetry, mythology or religion. In both cases, however, the style may be figurative, representative, abstract or semi-abstract. A mural is a picture that is affixed directly to a wall or ceiling, as part of an architectural and/or decorative scheme.

Applicants must have been resident in Australia for a period of 5 years prior to the closing date.

Enter:

Download application form for Sulman Prize 2012 (PDF 101.3 KB)

Download additional information for Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2012 (PDF 62.5 KB)

General conditions of entry for all prizes

A complete list of conditions are included in the application forms. See how to apply, below.

Entries for the 2012 Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes will be received between Monday 5 March and Friday 9 March.

Dates for entries for the 2012 Dobell Prize are still to be determined.

  1. A $30 (including GST) handling fee is to be paid for each work entered. One work only can be entered in each competition.
  2. An individual work may not be submitted for more than one prize. Should this occur, the Trustees reserve the right to enter the work in the category most appropriate.
  3. There is a size restriction for works in the Archibald, Wynne, Sulman and Dobell Prize competitions. Works must be no larger in size than 90 000 square cm (eg 3m x 3m, 1.5m x 6m, etc). This applies to the overall size of multi-panel pieces. Sculptures cannot exceed 3 metres in height, 2 square metres in area or 1000 kg in weight. Please note that the wall height in the exhibition space is 3.4 metres, floor to ceiling.
    The Sulman Prize competition has a further size restriction: paintings must be larger than 76.2cm x 60.9cm (or more than 4640 square cm in area). These measurements apply to the actual work of art and not frames or mounting. Murals must be in the form of a colour scale design in any media and must be less than 150cm x 100cm. Murals must be accompanied by a photograph of the site in which the mural is/will be located.
  4. Painting, drawing and mural project entries must be suitably framed for handling. A stretched canvas is considered framed. Please remove any hooks or wire, as they can damage other artists’ work.
  5. IMPORTANT: Neither the Trust nor the Gallery will be responsible for loss or damage whatsoever, and however caused, to any work whilst in its custody. Each competitor is responsible for maintaining his/her own insurance coverage.
  6. The Trust reserves the right to display certain works chosen from those not hung in the Archibald Prize exhibition and Wynne Prize exhibition at a Salon des Refusés exhibition at the SH Ervin Gallery. However, it is the policy of the SH Ervin Gallery to seek the permission of each artist before their works are included in the Salon des Refusés exhibition.
  7. The Trustees reserve the right to display certain works from those hung in the Archibald Prize exhibition at another venue.
  8. Multi-panel pieces are accepted and are regarded as one work. Such works should be accompanied by a photo of the assembled work and clear instructions for the installation of the work if selected for hanging. The overall size of the work must comply with condition 3 above.

How to apply

The appropriate application form can be downloaded from this page, when available, or you can request a hardcopy by contacting the Art Gallery of NSW: tel (02) 9225 1700 or email entries@ag.nsw.gov.au (please supply your mailing address).

Deliveries of artworks are to be made at the rear entrance of the Gallery (which is also the accessible entrance).