Central Highlands Regional CouncilAnnual Art Awards – Springsure

The awards

The Central Highlands Regional Council Annual Art Awards – Springsure is the Bauhinia Bicentennial Art Gallery’s premier art event. It attracts local, regional and national artists and is held annually in March.

Established and emerging artists of all ages can submit entries in up to seven categories. From easel, paper-based and three-dimensional works to photography and black and white art, each adult category comes with a $600 prize for first and $150 prize for second place.

Young Artists of the Central Highlands are encouraged to enter into the youth sections of the competition. There are two categories: Youth (13-18 years) and Juvenile (12 years and under) with a first prize of $150 and second prize of $50 awarded to winners of each category.

Each year, a judge(s) awards an artist the prestigious Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award worth $2000 to the most outstanding work from categories one to five.

In style of an evening at the gallery, the awards night and exhibition opening has become a popular event in the Central Highlands social calendar. Artists and guests mingle over wine and platters, while nominating their favourite artwork for the People’s Choice Award which will be voted via an online poll on the “Have Your Say Central Highlands” platform.

Gallery opening hours:

Mon – Fri: 9.00am – 1.00pm (closed 1.00pm – 2.00pm), 2.00pm – 5.00pm

Sat: 9.00am – 12.00pm

Sun: Closed
Award categories

Category one | Easel-based works

Artworks can be any medium, including mixed media, acrylic, oil, collage, printmaking and more. Artworks should be on a non-paper-based support.

First prize – $600
Second prize – $150

Category two | Works on paper

Artworks must be on paper and can include drawings, watercolour, collage, mixed media, printmaking and more.

First prize – $600
Second prize – $150

Category three | Three-dimensional and fibre works

Artworks can include pottery, sculpture, maquette, carving, assemblage, timber, metal, stone, plastic, fibre, mosaic and more.

First prize – $600
Second prize – $150

Category four | Photography and digital art

This category is for non-manipulated images, digital art and manipulated photography.

First prize – $600
Second prize – $150

Category five | Black and white

Artworks must be in black and white and can be of any medium and in any format.

First prize – $600
Second prize – $150

Category six | Youth – 13 to 18 years

Artworks can be in any medium and in any format.

First prize – $150
Second prize – $50

Category seven | Juniors – 12 years and under

Artworks can be in any medium and in any format.

First prize – $150
Second prize – $50
Judges' awards

Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award

Selected by the judge(s), the Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award is chosen from entries in categories one to five with a prize of $2000 awarded to the winner. Artworks must be listed for sale to qualify for this award.

People’s Choice Award

Voted by an online poll open for two weeks from opening night, the People’s Choice Award comes with a $200 prize.

Date	Description
Friday 20 February 2026	Entries Close
Tuesday 3 March 2026, 5.00pm	Final date for artwork delivery
Friday 6 March 2026, 6.00pm	Official Opening
Saturday 7 March to Saturday 18 April 2026	Exhibition open Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5.00pm
Monday 20 April 2026	Collection of artworks

Entry form and terms and conditions

Entries have now closed for 2026.
2026 Winners

Opened Friday 6 March 2026 by Cr Newman, the Springsure Art Awards 2026 is a showcase of local talent and creativity.

The awards exhibit includes 64 artworks created by 35 artists from across the region. Judging was conducted by Henri van Noordenburg, Project Officer- Regional Services for Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art Brisbane and artist.

People choice

Becky Miller – the Very Hungry Caterpillar

Easel based works

1st Place – Ainslie McMahon – Paradise in Brown

2nd Place – Lawrie Stanton – Lillies after the Rain

Works on Paper

1st Place – Carmen Beezley-Drake – Flight over the Tapestry of Landscape

2nd Place – Lotte Anning – Untouched and Free

Three-dimensional and fibre works

1st Place – Carol Foster – Sketching at the Glasshouse Mountains

Photography and digital art

1st Place – Diane Armstrong – Susurro Dautunno, Dolomiti

Black and white

1st Place – Diane Armstrong – Still We Breathe

2nd Place – Gail Meyer – Weeds and Wildflowers

Youth 13-18 years

1st Place – Nova Stanton – 2D from Gorillaz

2nd Place – Harlii Watkins – Grunting Buck

Junior 12 years and under

1st Place – Elise King – Spot and Dot

2nd Place – Amardeep Kaur – Harmony in Bloom

CHRC Acquisitive Award

Kay Wolfs – Lone Surfer
2024 Catalogue

View the catalogue for the 2024 CHRC Annual Art Awards – Springsure below:

Annual Art Awards – Springsure – 2024 Catalogue
2024 Winners

Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award

“Ancient Footsteps” Rose Knight

Category 1 Winners (Easel Based Works)

First Prize

“Bush Creek” Joe Faust

Second Prize

“Frangipani Dream” Elena Churilova

Highly Commended

“Summer Solstice” Tara Lewis

Category 2 Winners (Works on paper)

First Prize

“Help is on its way” Anna-Maree Perfect

Second Prize

“Horses at sunset” Elena Churilova

Highly Commended

“The solace of wild places” Ainslie McMahon

Category 3 Winners (3-D & Fibre Works)

First Prize

“Ibis Vessel” Paula Bowie

Second Prize

“Nature Impressions” Carol Forster

Highly Commended

“Scoria 2023” Sarah-Menai Strittmatter

Category 4 Winners (Photography & Digital Art)

First Prize

“Smile of Hope” Diane Armstrong

Second Prize

“The Intimidating Stare” Michael Chay

Highly Commended

“Horses of the Forest” Kardia Stokes

Category 5 Winners (Black & white)

First Prize

“Enduring the strain” Lotte Anning

Second Prize

“Workhorse” Tara Lewis

Highly Commended

“Rain, Rain, Go Away” James Laws

Category 6 Winners (13-18 years)

First Prize

“Family Portrait” Lindy Johnson (15)

Second Prize

“The City Bridge” Matthew Weeks (18)

Highly Commended

“Like Grandma use to make” Safiya Higgins (13)

Category 7 Winners (12 years & under)

First Prize

“The Red Centre” George Roberts (8)

Second Prize

“Pear Please?” Hunter Taylor (8)

Highly Commended

“Turtles at sea” Amy Loch (8)

Highly Commended

“Chopper Mustering” Jack O’Neil (5)
2023 Winners

Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award

“Life in the Mangroves” Ainslie McMahon

People’s Choice Award

“Predator” Nifty Davis

Category 1 Winners (Easel Based Works)

First Prize

“Coral Dreaming” Helen Chivers

Second Prize

“Untitled” Nifty Davis

Highly Commended

“Monarch” Kiara Follent

Category 2 Winners (Works on paper)

First Prize

“Transportation of People, Grain & Coal” Carmen Beezley-Drake

Second Prize

“Rains are coming” Helen Chivers

Highly Commended

“Bridge over Nogoa River” Tara Lewis

Category 3 Winners (3-D Works)

First Prize

“Garden Sketch” Carol Forster

Second Prize

“Mottlecah” Raelene Bock

Highly Commended

“My house has many rooms” Sharon Kirk

Category 4 Winners (Photography & Digital Art)

First Prize

“On the Move” James Laws

Second Prize

“Good Tucker Mate” Lou Petho

Highly Commended

“Sky Above, Sand Below, Peace Within” Stacey Parsons

Category 5 Winners (Black & white)

First Prize

“She is Her” Stacey Parsons

Second Prize

“Following the Line” Heidi Chivers

Highly Commended

“Clothesline out the back” James Laws

Category 6 Winners (13-18 years)

First Prize

“Patchwork” India Iwers

Second Prize

“Kailie” Heidi Chivers

Highly Commended

“Time without hands” Jacob Samuels

Category 7 Winners (12 years & under)

First Prize

“Deadly Texas” Jackson Kirby

Second Prize

“Meowshrooms” Kelsey Allen

Highly Commended

“Rain like gold” Sarah Simpson

The Central Highlands Regional Council Annual Art Awards – Springsure is the Bauhinia Bicentennial Art Gallery’s premier art event. It attracts local, regional and national artists and is held annually in March.

Established and emerging artists of all ages can submit entries in up to seven categories. From easel, paper-based and three-dimensional works to photography and black and white art, each adult category comes with a $600 prize for first and $150 prize for second place.

Young Artists of the Central Highlands are encouraged to enter into the youth sections of the competition. There are two categories: Youth (13-18 years) and Juvenile (12 years and under) with a first prize of $150 and second prize of $50 awarded to winners of each category.

Each year, a judge(s) awards an artist the prestigious Central Highlands Regional Council Acquisitive Award worth $2000 to the most outstanding work from categories one to five.

In style of an evening at the gallery, the awards night and exhibition opening has become a popular event in the Central Highlands social calendar. Artists and guests mingle over wine and platters, while nominating their favourite artwork for the People’s Choice Award which will be voted via an online poll on the “Have Your Say Central Highlands” platform.

Gallery opening hours:

Mon – Fri: 9.00am – 1.00pm (closed 1.00pm – 2.00pm), 2.00pm – 5.00pm

Sat: 9.00am – 12.00pm

Sun: Closed

Category one | Easel-based works

Artworks can be any medium, including mixed media, acrylic, oil, collage, printmaking and more. Artworks should be on a non-paper-based support.