by Rosemary Warmington, AM, Chair of the 2025 Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize
“Am I an Emerging Artist?” This is one of the many questions that early-stage artists might ask themselves. Along with: “When do I stop being an emerging artist?”
Then there is another question: “Should I enter an art prize, and if so which one should I enter?”
These are all good questions, particularly because not every art prize includes an “emerging artist” category.
By entering an “emerging artist” category in an art prize, emerging artists can know that they are competing with artists at the same or similar level.
They can trust that their work will be judged and given fair consideration amongst other emerging artists.
The 2025 Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize has many categories, in addition to a $20,000 first prize.
There are also seven category prizes, of $2,500 each. One of those categories is for an “Emerging Artist.”
Category prizes are offered for: Multimedia (including digital art and photography), School Student, First Nations (sponsored by Mount Horrocks Wines), People's Choice (sponsored by the Royal Adelaide Show Society), Three-dimensional (i.e. sculptures, craft etc), Artist Living with a Disability (sponsored by Minda), and Emerging Artist.
Importantly, the ‘Emerging Artist” category is open to any age group and all artistic media. Of course, any work submitted must fit within the same terms and conditions that apply to all entries.
So who is an emerging artist? Other art prizes have their own definitions, but here’s the definition for the Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize. You are an emerging artist if you meet all of the following criteria:
you have not had a significant exhibition of your work in a commercial (a physical or online business that represents and sells the work of artists as their primary business) or public gallery (a gallery or museum, whether privately or publicly owned, that holds public exhibitions of artworks, but is not primarily in the business of selling art and the space has not been rented by the artist); and
you have not received an award, grant (including residency) or commission for your artwork or art practice (excluding those specifically for students or young and emerging artists); and
your work has not been acquired by a public, institutional, corporate or significant private collection (for example, the collections of government organisations, museums, art galleries, hospitals, universities, churches, and large corporations or private collections with an established public profile); and
you do not earn 50 per cent or more of your income from the sale of artworks, or on the basis of your recognised expertise as an artist (for example, as an academic, teacher, workshop facilitator, etc.).
Do you fit those criteria? Then give some thought to the theme: “Inspire”. What is it about your Adelaide Park Lands that can inspire your art work?’
Previous winner
Brenton Drechsler (right) with former Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize chair, Nataliya Dikovskaya, at the Adelaide Festival Centre for the opening night of the 2023 Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize.
Since winning the Adelaide Park Lands Emerging Artist prize in 2023, Brenton Drechsler has been on a whirlwind artistic journey.
Amongst other things, Brenton has completed his studies with the Adelaide Central School of Art, and held highly successful solo exhibitions.
Brenton's talent has also garnered national recognition, with finalist positions in esteemed competitions like the National Emerging Artist Prize in Sydney and the National Capital Art Prize in Canberra. He's also made his mark locally as a finalist in the Creative Health Art Prize and as the proud winner of the Gallery M Contemporary Art Prize, that was followed by his solo exhibition, “Stripes 2”.
Two entries that, taken together, won the Emerging Artist prize for Brenton Drechsler at the 2023 Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize. Looking West (left) and “Looking East” (right)
“Winning The Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize ‘Emerging Art Prize’ in 2023 was a fabulous experience,” Brenton told us.
“The funds that came with the prize helped finance the creation of my first body of paintings, exhibited later that year. Winning in the “emerging” category was a much needed boost to my confidence. It encouraged me to take more risks as a student, in both my Honours year at Adelaide Central School of Art and in my professional studio practice at home.
Brenton Drechsler at work. Pic: @adelaidecentralschool
“I was humbled to accept the prize amongst such esteemed artists and in such a wonderful venue like the Adelaide Festival Theatre. The whole experience, from entering the prize to the opening night of the exhibition was a positive and enriching one. I found the team that worked behind the scenes of the prize to be engaging and professional.
“The experience set the tone for a productive year, feeling invigorated by genuine arts-community engagement.
“My connection to the Adelaide Park lands has deepened as a result of this prize. I often feel drawn to the area to consider its compositional qualities. I encourage those who are able to enter the prize to do so, as you just never know what the outcome may be. Good luck.”
Submit an entry
His recent success makes Brenton Drechsler ineligible to be an “Emerging Artist” again in 2025, but that leaves the way for someone else to leave a similar mark.
As a community art prize the Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize wants to build and support our growing artistic community amongst artists of all levels. Therefore, if you are an emerging Artist we encourage you to enter the Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize.
Submit your entry here: https://parklandsart.org/adelaide-park-lands-art-prize-2025-entry-form/
Entries close 31 January 2025.
