Last days to enter the 2018 Bowness photography prize

Entries for the 2018 William & Winifred Bowness Photography Prize close in just one week.


Launched in 2006, the prize promotes excellence in photography across all photographic media and stylistic genres by both established and emerging artists, and features work produced in the last year.


The prize has become an important survey of contemporary photographic practice and one of the most prestigious prizes in the country, providing Australian photographers with the opportunity to exhibit at one of Australia's leading public galleries. The cash prize awarded to the winner is $30,000.


Anouska Phizacklea, MGA Director, said that the Award holds a special place in the nation’s network of art galleries and museums. "The Bowness Photography Prize plays an important part in MGA’s role as ‘the Australian home of photography’, one that recognises exemplary work and champions Australian photographic artists." she said.

2013 winner Pat Brassington said that although her career was fairly well grounded at the time she won, the prize was an important steeping stone. “The challenge never fades and self doubt is never far away so the win lifted my confidence and strengthened my resolve to continue pursuing an experimental practice."


Polixeni Papapetrou, one of Australia’s most celebrated artists, sadly passed away earlier this year after a long battle with cancer. She won the Award in 2017, and her work 'Delphi' now belongs to the MGA collection.

Entries close July 11, with finalists announced on 10 August. Images will be exhibited from 29 September - 18 November and the winner will be announced on October 11.

You can find out more about the awards, and enter here.