The National Contemporary Art Prize was established to support and showcase Australian artists and celebrate their skill and diversity.
About National Contemporary Art Prize (NCAP)
National Contemporary Art Prize is a not-for-profit company established in Canberra in March 2021.
All funds generated through partnerships and entry fees are used in the running of NCAP and are continuously reinvested in the Prize to encourage artistic endeavour into the future.
With a prize pool of more than $48,000, this competition was originally aimed to ignite the passion and courage of artists across the country, many of whom lost the opportunity to display and sell their work during the COVID pandemic with its devastating impact on the arts sector.
The annual NCAP is established to:
- Promote culturally diverse artistic endeavours
- Showcase the talent of Australian artists
- Support the artistic education and endeavours of young people
- Nurture the creative development of artists in Australia
- Provide a forum where art can be viewed, studied, critiqued and sold
The annual competition offers an exciting platform for Australian artists of all genres, ages and level of experience.
Our Story
The saying ‘creativity takes courage’ originally came from the famous French artist, Henri Matisse, and it certainly rings true in the art world. It takes courage to pursue artistic endeavours. The process of creating art is deeply personal and provides an opportunity for true self-expression. We all view the world through a different lens and it takes bravery to share our views and beliefs, especially where it can be judged by others.
The life of an artist also goes against societal norms. A career in the arts isn’t considered to be a safe or stable path. Artists need courage to continue pursuing their passions, especially during tough times like the COVID-19 pandemic. With less opportunities to display and sell their work through the pandemic, many artists have been struggling and have had to be extremely resilient. NCAP is a way to support artists and reignite their passion and courage.
Mission
Designed to minimise restrictions often placed on artists in competitions, NCAP entries in the Open and First Nations categories can portray any vision or subject and be painted in oil, acrylic, watercolour, mixed media, or pencil etc. Entries in the Sustainability category can respond using any medium – including sculpture and photography. Artists can submit up to four entries.
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