Meroogal Women’s Art Prize

Museums of History NSW is excited to announce that entries are now open for the 2024 Meroogal Women’s Art Prize, with a prize pool of over $10,000.

Women artists from across NSW are invited to submit works, in any medium, that respond to the historic house of Meroogal, its former occupants, and its meaning within broader historical and contemporary contexts. Selected artworks will be displayed throughout the property, which is located on the NSW South Coast. These works will provide new perspectives on the personal stories of the people who once lived there and the rich collection of objects that are still contained within the house.

The Meroogal Women’s Art Prize is a regional, non-acquisitive competition and exhibition. It is open to a work in any medium made by a woman aged 18 years or over who is a resident of NSW.

Entries are now closed.

Artworks selected for inclusion in the exhibition will be on display to the public from Saturday 9 November 2024 to Saturday 24 May 2025. They will also be photographed to document and promote the exhibition.

2024 prizes

1st Prize: $8,000, a Bundanon artist-in-residence scholarship* and a Museums of History NSW membership

2nd Prize: $1,500, a solo exhibition at the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra, including an opening event, and a Museums of History NSW membership

Highly Commended Award: $1,500 and a Museums of History NSW membership

People’s Choice Award: $500 and a Museums of History NSW membership (to be announced at the close of the exhibition)

*Bundanon’s prestigious Artist in Residence program offers artists the opportunity to experiment with their art in an inspiring and spacious environment, fostering creativity, energy, and connection with other creative researchers . Nestled within Bundanon’s expansive 1000-hectare property along Shoalhaven River, the Artist in Residence Complex features purpose-built studios and accommodation.

The two-week artist-in-residence scholarship includes access to a studio space and accommodation for one person at Bundanon. The artistic resident is required to supply their own art materials and fund personal costs including meals and transport. The artistic resident must complete the residency in 2025 and negotiate residency dates with Bundanon staff.

Judges

The judges for this year’s prize are:

Zanny Begg
Gallery Director, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra

Rebecca Bushby
Director of Programming, Production & Audience
Museums of History NSW

Tamara Dean
Photomedia artist and winner of the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2018

Sophie O’Brien
Head of Curatorial and Learning, Bundanon

Key dates

  • Entries close Tuesday 24 September 2024 at 4pm
  • Artists selected for the exhibition will be notified by Wednesday 16 October 2024
  • Artwork delivery dates: Thursday 31 October and Saturday 2 November 2024 between 10am and 3pm
  • Judging: Friday 8 November 2024
  • Prize winners announced and exhibition launched: Saturday 9 November 2024
  • Exhibition dates: Saturday 9 November 2024 to Saturday 24 May 2025

Address for delivery and collection of works

Meroogal
Corner West and Worrigee streets
Nowra NSW 2541

Inquiries

Dr Jacqui Newling, Curator
Email: mwap@mhnsw.au

Terms and conditions

Find out more

Terms and conditions (PDF)

Frequently asked questions

Closing date for entries is Tuesday 24 September 2024 at 4pm.

Entries are to be submitted online at mhnsw.is/meroogalartprize

For further inquiries, please contact:

Dr Jacqui Newling, Curator, Meroogal Women’s Art Prize

Museums of History NSW Email: mwap@mhnsw.au

Partners

Verandah at Meroogal, facing Worrigee Street
Opens 9 November
Exhibition

Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2024

The biennial Meroogal Women’s Art Prize is now in its 20th year

Saturday 9 November
Front gate at Meroogal

Past winners of the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize

Now in its 20th year, we look back at the past winners of the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize – a regional, non-acquisitive competition and exhibition

A Jacaranda tree in bloom with Meroogal House in the background

Learn more about Meroogal

Discover the history of the house, the people who lived there, and the collection still held within the walls of this historic property

Past exhibitions

Exterior of Meroogal with Jacaranda trees in bloom
Past exhibition

Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2022

The Meroogal Women’s Art Prize celebrates the creativity and achievements of female artists across NSW

Saturday 17 September
A view of Meroogal from the northeast corner of the block at the launch of the 2020 Meroogal Women's Art Prize 2020
Past exhibition

Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2020

Inspired by our 2020 themes of community, connection and impact, we’re delighted to be celebrating the achievements and creativity of female artists across NSW

Saturday 19 September
Large gathering in garden around wooden house, surrounded by white picket fence.
Past exhibition

Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2018

The Meroogal Women’s Art Prize celebrates the creativity and achievements of female artists across NSW, and pays tribute to the four generations of women from the Thorburn and Macgregor families who lived at Meroogal in Nowra for almost 100 years

Meroogal Women's Art Prize 2014 exhibition on now
Past exhibition

Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2014

Women artists from across NSW created works in response to Nowra’s historic Meroogal house museum for the 2014 Meroogal Women’s Art Prize

Past exhibition
Past exhibition

Meroogal Women's Arts Prize 2011

The Historic Houses Trust has proudly presented the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize since 1998

Past exhibition
Past exhibition

Meroogal Women's Arts Prize 2009

The Meroogal Women's Arts Prize is open to all women living on the South Coast and Southern Highlands

Meroogal Women's Arts Prize 2007, installation views
Past exhibition

Meroogal Women's Art Prize 2007

Women artists of the South Coast and Southern Highlands were invited to submit art works which responded creatively to the theme, Origins & Identity at Meroogal

Rendez-vous by Vita Cochran

Celebrating women artists across NSW

The Meroogal Women’s Art Prize, now in its 19th year, was launched on 16 September 2022

Our manifold nature: loutrophoros for the new woman by Ebony Russell (WINNER 2022 Meroogal Women's Art Prize)

In conversation with Ebony Russell

We sat down with the winner of the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2022

Image of the Meroogal homestead on a sunny day.
Museum stories

Make yourself at home

Meroogal became home to four generations of resilient and resourceful women, whose house was their livelihood as well as their home