The Art Gallery of NSW and Art & Australia Prize for
Student Critical Writing on the Visual Arts 2009

The New Word Order critical writing prize is an initiative developed by Art & Australia magazine and the Art Gallery of NSW to support and encourage excellence in student critical writing on the visual arts. The prize offers an opportunity for students to develop their critical writing skills and gain recognition for their efforts.

Art & Australia is a proud partner of Teacher Professional Development at the Art Gallery of NSW.

• Entry criteria and judging
  
• Guidelines to Critical Writing by NSW Visual Arts Teachers
  
• Prizes
  
• How to enter
  
• Entry form (PDF)
• Winners 2007
• Winners 2006
   
  

Entry criteria and judging

The competition is open to senior secondary students (stage 6) in NSW.

Write a 500-750 word critical review of an exhibition you have recently visited at the Art Gallery of NSW, or at another gallery in your local area.

Winning essays will:

• present a coherent, sustained and well-reasoned point of view which may acknowledge key concepts and the ideas of other critics
• be contextually strong with specific and relevant information that enriches the content of the critical account of the exhibition
• comprehensively examine and interpret the subject(s) in relation to the critical account constructed
• effectively explain the selection and significance of examples used to construct a critical account which explains and evaluates key points of the artwork and the artist.
• utilise a complex and logical evaluation of the visual arts
• reflect an extensive understanding of the visual arts and thorough research of the topic

More information and suggested criteria on critical essay writing are given in Guidelines to Critical Writing by NSW Visual Arts Teachers.
 

Guidelines to Critical Writing by NSW Visual Arts Teachers

Document 1:
Craig Malyon, head teacher, Visual Arts, MLC Burwood

Document 2:
Sharon Tofler, head teacher, Visual Arts, Brigidine College, Randwick

Entries will be judged by a professional panel consisting of:
Christopher Allen, art historian and art critic
Michael Fitzgerald, managing editor, Art & Australia
Kathrine Kyriacou, Visual Arts teacher, Cranbrook School 

Prizes

All winning entries will be published online at www.artandaustralia.com.au and on this website.

First prize
A one-year subscription to Art & Australia magazine valued at $75, a copy of the book Current: Contemporary art in Australia, a one-week work experience opportunity at Art & Australia, and an Art Gallery of New South Wales Bookshop voucher valued at $50.

Second prize
A one-year subscription to Art & Australia magazine valued at $75, and an Art Gallery of NSW shop voucher valued at $50.

Third prize
A one-year subscription to Art & Australia.

Highly commended
Selected back issues of Art & Australia, and an Art Gallery of New South Wales Bookshop voucher valued at $50.
 

How to enter

All entries must be submitted electronically.

Posted entries are also recommended. Posted entries and endorsement to:

The New Word Order: Critical Writing Competition
Public Programs
Art Gallery of NSW
Art Gallery Road, The Domain
NSW 2000

A maximum of five entries may be submitted per school. Each essay must be endorsed by the head teacher, Visual Arts, as the original work of the student.