Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2026
Exhibition coming soon
The biennial Meroogal Women’s Art Prize is now in its 21st year.
This biennial prize celebrates the achievements and creativity of women artists in NSW through works that respond to the historic house of Meroogal, its rich cultural heritage and enduring sense of place. Artworks on exhibition include ceramics, illustrations, paintings, textile works and sculptural forms produced in varying mediums.
Artists from across NSW were invited to submit artworks that respond to Meroogal and its meaning within broader historical and contemporary contexts. The finalist artworks will be displayed throughout the property to provide new perspectives on the stories of the people who once lived there and the treasured possessions they left in the house.
Finalists
Ellen Bagge, Rebecca Boyd, Alex Bray, Gaye Chapman, Jill Chapman, Julie Danilov, Belinda Dawes, Danja Derkenne, Nicola Dillon, Naomi Droll, Liv Enqvist, Leonie Evans, Kate Goodwin, Freya Hilkemeijer, Wendy Howard, Freya Jobbins, Anita Johnson, Sue Kennedy, Gemma Lloyd, Kelly Mackey, N G Malla, Joanne McNamara, LUCiA MiG, Alexandra Mills, Luanne Mitchelmore, Maria Pia Mosquera, Amanda Jane Reynolds, Lizette Richards, Lesley Richman, Alison Rose, Tracey Schramm, Olga Shashkina, Linelle Stepto, Susanna Strati, Sue Tesoriero, Paula Thistleton, Charlotte Thodey, Alex Thorby, Jess Wheelahan and Sarah Yee.
Prizes
Residency Prize: $8,000, a Bundanon artist-in-residence scholarship* and a Museums of History NSW membership
Exhibition Prize: $8,000, a solo exhibition* at the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra 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 (award to be announced at the close of the exhibition)
* See Meroogal Women’s Art Prize page for further details
Judges
The judges for this year’s prize are:
Henrietta Cheshire
Artist-in-residence, Vaucluse House, 2025
Zanny Begg
Director, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra
Boe-lin Bastian
Curator, Bundanon
Kim Tao
Manager, Curatorial, Museums of History NSW
Related
Meroogal Women’s Art Prize
This biennial prize celebrates the achievements and creativity of women artists in NSW through works that respond to the historic house of Meroogal, its rich cultural heritage and enduring sense of place
Meroogal
Corner West and Worrigee streets, Nowra NSW 2541 Plan your visit19 September 2026 – 24 April 2027
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Partners
Past exhibitions
Browse all
Past event
Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2024
The biennial Meroogal Women’s Art Prize is now in its 20th year
Saturday 9 November
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
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
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
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
Meroogal Women's Arts Prize 2011
The Historic Houses Trust has proudly presented the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize since 1998
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
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