Entry & Exhibition timeline
Judges and selection panel will be announced shortly.
Closing date for entry forms: Midnight, Monday 30 September 2024.
Finalists notified: Close of business on Monday 21 October 2024 via email.
Finalist artwork to be delivered to the gallery between Monday 18 November and Wednesday 20 November between the hours of 10am and 4pm or prior via courier. No late entries will be accepted.
Artwork delivery address: SECCA, 1 Zingel Place, Bega NSW 2550, Phone: (02) 6499 2201.
Official opening: Friday 29 November 2024. The opening will take place in the gallery from 6pm.
Exhibition closes at 2pm on Saturday 10 February 2025.
Collection of paintings: Between Monday 24 February and Wednesday 26 February 2025. Work must be collected between 10am and 4pm.
If you cannot meet this collection timeframe due to special circumstances, please contact the gallery, and we will do our best to assist you.
Terms and Conditions of Entry
1. The Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award (SHNPA) will be awarded to the Best Portrait being a realistic depiction of a particular living person, with the subject known to the artist and aware of the artist’s intention. Self-portraits are eligible subject submissions. Finalists may be asked to supply sitter contact details for marketing purposes.
2. The work must be a painting. It may be a multi-panel work as long as the overall dimensions do not exceed the size limit (see below).
3. Dimensions, up to 200cm x 200cm in size or equivalent area, including frame.
4. May be painted in any medium (e.g. oil, acrylic, watercolour, mixed media).
5. All work must be the original work of the exhibiting artist. Artists must be a permanent resident of Australia at time of entry. Artists are asked to submit an artist’s statement, up-to-date CV and digital images of both their subject and of the artwork for pre-selection with their online entry. Artists selected will be notified by email on the 21 October 2024. A list of finalists will be posted on the gallery website. Works must have been completed within the last 12 months and must not have been exhibited before at SECCA. Artworks are eligible if they have been completed since 26 May 2023.
6. There is no limit to the number of entries an artist can submit, however a separate application form and entry fee must accompany each entry. Only one work per artist will be eligible for selection for the final exhibition.
7. All entries must have D-hooks (no wires) and must be ready for hanging. No clip frames will be accepted.
8. Entries must be clearly marked on the back with the artist’s name, address, date of completion and title of work.
9. The winning work is not acquired by SECCA.
10. Works in this exhibition are not for sale through SECCA. The valuation is for insurance purposes only. However, SECCA will connect interested parties with the artist.
11. All work exhibited shall be held for the duration of the exhibition.
12. The judge’s decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
13. Please note SECCA reserves the right to have works documented for media purposes or for its own photographic records.
14. Artists are responsible for insurance of their works for transport to and from the Gallery. SECCA will take out and maintain adequate insurance against loss, damage, theft and destruction of the work when the work is in the Gallery’s care, custody or control for the exhibition and between the work’s arrival and departure from SECCA.
15. All entries submitted will be viewed by a selection committee. The selection committee and judge will be appointed by the Gallery Director.
16. The selection committee reserves the right to reject any painting or drawing deemed unfit to exhibit (including works that differ greatly from entry photographs).
17. Employees of Bega Valley Shire Council and their families are not eligible to enter the SHNPA.
Entry Fee
An entry fee of $55 (GST inc) is required to enter the Award. Payment must be made electronically at the payment portal here. Entry fees will not be refunded if artworks are unsuccessful in selection as finalists to the Award.
Original and non-infringing work
The competitor warrants that the work is original and does not infringe the copyright, moral rights or other rights of any third party.
Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights
Indigenous cultural and intellectual property (ICIP) refers to the rights that Indigenous people have, and want to have, in their traditional arts and culture or cultural heritage. Such rights may include the rights to:
– protect traditional knowledge and sacred cultural material
– ensure that traditional laws and customary obligations are respected
– appropriate attribution of the community
– prevent insulting, offensive and misleading uses of ICIP.
If the work includes, is derived from, or references ICIP material, the artist guarantees they have secured informed consent from the community custodians of the ICIP rights. This consent must allow the use of such material and permit the Gallery to display and reproduce the work as specified in these entry conditions. The artist must provide evidence of ICIP consent to the Gallery upon request. Additionally, when submitting their entry, the artist must inform the Gallery of any ICIP requirements that may affect the attribution, display, or reproduction of the work.
Collecting the work
Transport arrangements are the responsibility of the artists
Please make sure that works are suitably packed and labelled with the artist’s name, so that they can be returned in the same packaging. There is no rail to Bega.
SECCA’s preferred carrier is International Art Services
The competitor is responsible for organising the collection of their work during the time period specified by the Gallery and must indicate on the entry form how the work will be collected. These are the ONLY options available for the return of works. There will be NO returns by Australia Post. If you cannot meet this collection timeframe due to special circumstances, please contact the gallery, and we will do our best to assist you.
The Gallery will NOT pay for any costs incurred in the collection of any entry.