Calling all budding artists – to mark 60 years of Eckersley’s Art & Craft, the good folk behind the label are celebrating Australian contemporary art with a whopping big prize pool of dosh up for grabs. The inaugural Eckersley’s Art & Craft Prize invites artists from all over the country to put their creativity to task for the chance to take home a portion of the $25,000 prize pool. Not only will three talented artists be selected to win a bucketload of moolah, the finalists and winners will also be a part of the prestigious group exhibition at Hazelhurst Arts Centre in Sydney/Warrane this spring.

The top prize winner will be getting their mitts on a hefty $20,000, while the second prize is $4000 and the third is $1000. Any creative from across the country can enter their 2D or 3D artwork, as long as it has been made with analogue materials.

Rest assured – the entries won’t be judged by any ol’ art-y types. The experts taking on the mighty mission of selecting the winning artworks will include a panel of esteemed guest judges who all happen to know a thing or two – or a whole darn lot – about the art industry and art-making. Natalie O’Connor, Alan Daniel Jones and Carla Hananiah will be the distinguished panel of judges perusing the submitted work. We chat to them below about their own art, the value of the prize, and – of course – what it takes to win it.

 

 

 

 

 

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Tell us a little bit about your art practice and what you’ve been working on recently.
Natalie O’Connor: My art practice explores the materiality of colour through an interdisciplinary approach. I developed a deep interest in materials when I worked in the colour manufacturing industry. Actually, I became a little obsessed – so much so that it led me to PhD research where I spent the last 10 years investigating the behaviour of red pigments. My art has centred on a unique remote arid place in the Willandra Lakes World Heritage, called Mungo. I've investigated the sensory qualities of colour to evoke a deep connection to place. I love it! This place and the people I have met there have been pivotal to my learning about seeing and feeling colour.

Alan Daniel Jones: I'm a visual artist and I work with various media, but primarily I make paintings. I recently returned from a residency at the UNSW Arid Zone Research Station in Fowler Gap, located in far northwestern New South Wales. There, I focused on creating a series of small paintings that focused on the shifting colours and tones of the Australian outback landscape.

Carla Hananiah: Colour and the physicality of paint are my two joys. I’ve been working on a whole lot of colour studies focused on limited palettes and mixing greys, which have translated into some dramatic sky-focused landscapes in watercolour, gouache and oil. I’m planning my next focused trip into the landscape to work towards a new collection of work.

 

 

 

 

 

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What will you be looking for in the winning entry of the Eckersley Art & Craft Prize?
Natalie: Technical skill is essential – I’ll be looking for material integrity, innovation and thoughtful practical use of materials. I like to see processes that demonstrate a sensitivity to surface tactility. That said, the techniques and materials used have to also be original and connect with the ideas of the artworks so that it extends the artwork beyond an illustration.

Alan: Did the artist challenge themself? How well does their work embrace a theme or idea? Did they experiment with and/or master their materials? Did they have fun creating their work? And, most importantly, connection. Does their work talk to the viewer?

Carla: A work that my eyes keep coming back to notice more. I appreciate various qualities in works – however, a confident mark and command of colour are qualities that I particularly appreciate.

 

 

 

 

 

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What are some of the benefits of winning an award like Eckersley’s Art & Craft Prize?
Natalie: Winning the major prize would be wonderful, but also the recognition as a finalist and having your work hung in a major gallery such as Hazelhurst Art Centre is another benefit that extends opportunities beyond the art prize.

Alan: For the lucky winners, prize money will help buy them some time in their studio, allowing them to focus on creating more work.

Carla: Art prizes are a wonderful opportunity to work to a deadline that isn’t self-imposed! Although the results of judging are always subjective, when your work is selected for exhibition and – better yet – awarded a prize, it is incredibly affirming. Award wins have been significant moments in my own career and have made a big difference in my practice. It’s more than the prize that matters (although the prize is always helpful!) – it’s the encouragement that your work resonates, not just with yourself but with others, too.

 

 

 

 

 

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What are some words of wisdom you’d like to share with keen artists thinking about entering the prize?
Natalie: Art prizes have become a valid forum for artists – both for those who are very experienced and those who are just starting out. Each artist that enters has created artwork that they have put time, passion and consideration into. It deserves to be recognised, by both you and by an audience.

Alan: You can make a work specifically for the prize or enter a work that you have already created. Either way is fine – there’s no right or wrong. The great thing about entering an art prize is that to get involved you only need one work. Every opportunity to exhibit your work is important because the art world survives on participation. The art world needs you, and it’s a great way to see your work alongside your peers.

Carla: Just do it! You never know unless you give it a go. Plus, it’s an opportunity to work towards creating with a deadline – which I know we as artists sometimes need. Enter, and whilst you await selection feedback or a judging result, keep creating work that has meaning to you. If you win with a work that resonates with you, it means the world.

Alrighty art folks – you heard ‘em! Bundle up your masterpiece and head this-a-way to enter Eckersley’s Art & Craft Prize 2025.