National Capital Art Prize – 2024 Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions (the “Terms and Conditions”) relate to an art competition entitled the “National Contemporary Art Prize” and also referred to as “NCAP”.

By entering this competition, you hereby agree to the following terms and represent and warrant to National Capital Art Prize Ltd, ABN: 90 226 454 645, trading as “National Contemporary Art Prize” or “NCAP” (or “us) that all registration information you submit is truthful and accurate.

Promoter

NCAP is a not-for-profit company established in Canberra in March 2021. Managed by Directors, the company supports and showcases Australian artists and celebrates their skill and diversity through an annual national contemporary art competition.

  • National Capital Art Prize Ltd trading as “National Contemporary Art Prize” or “NCAP”
  • hello@ncapart.com.au

Purpose

All funds generated through partnerships, commissions and entry fees are used in the running of the Prize and are continuously reinvested in NCAP to encourage artistic endeavour into the future.

The annual National Contemporary Art Prize 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


Categories and Prizes

A judging panel appointed by NCAP will select a minimum of 30 finalist entries for exhibition and sale from each of the three categories below.

An online exhibition will be hosted at https://ncapart.com.au/ and will be held until the end of October 2024.

A physical exhibition will be held at Aarwun Gallery, Gold Creek, Canberra ACT, commencing in September – October – specific dates will be published on the website.

There is only one winner per category:

  • Open Prize – cash prize of $20,000
  • First Nations Prize – for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists – cash prize of $20,000
  • Sustainability Prize – cash prize of $8,000

There is an additional prize – the People’s Choice Award

  • People’s Choice Award – cash prize of $1,000
  • This is available to finalists only
  • Voting for finalist artworks will occur online via https://ncapart.com.au/
  • The public voting period is from Monday 22 July 2024 – Monday 9 September 2024.
  • All finalists are required to participate in the People’s Choice Award


Eligibility

To be eligible for all prize categories, artists must be:

  • An Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia; and
  • Aged 18 and over

In addition, there are the following eligibility requirements:


First Nations Prize eligibility

Artists must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the First Nations prize:

  • Being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent
  • Identifying as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
  • Being accepted as such by the community in which you live, or formerly lived

If the artwork is discovered not to be made in accordance with the First Nations Prize eligibility criteria, it will be disqualified.


Exclusions:

  • Officers, employees, contractors, judges and immediate family members of NCAP are ineligible to participate in this Competition to avoid a perception of bias.

Category: Open and First Nations

Accepted media

The submitted artwork:

  • Can be a portrait, landscape, abstract or any subject matter
  • Can be in medium such as oil, acrylic, charcoal, watercolour, ink, mixed media, pencil or pen
  • Can be on any surface
  • Must be able to be framed
  • Unframed artwork dimension must NOT exceed the size limit of 150x150cm
  • All artworks must be completed within the previous 12-month period, 30 June 2023 to 1st July 2024
  • The artist shall be responsible for all costs associated with creating the work

Unaccepted media

The submitted artwork cannot be:

  • Digital
  • Photography
  • Sculpture

Category: Sustainability

The Sustainability category is based on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which is a plan of action for people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership. The agenda outlines a set of goals the world is working toward achieving.

We invite artists, wherever you are in Australia, to share with us your journey of embracing the beauty of the earth.

Artists must base their works on one of the following five pillars:

  1. People
    • We are determined to end poverty and hunger, in all their forms and dimensions, and to ensure that all human beings can fulfil their potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment.
  1. Planet
    • We are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations.
  1. Prosperity
    • We are determined to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature.
  1. Peace
    • We are determined to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence. There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development.
  1. Partnership
    • We are determined to mobilize the means required to implement this Agenda through a revitalised Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, based on a spirit of strengthened global solidarity, focussed in particular on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable and with the participation of all countries, all stakeholders and all people.

Artists could use these 17 goals as a guide.

  1. No Poverty
  2. Zero Hunger
  3. Good Health and Wellbeing
  4. Quality Education
  5. Gender Equality
  6. Clean Water and Sanitation
  7. Affordable and Clean Energy
  8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
  9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  10. Reduced Inequalities
  11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
  12. Responsible Consumption and Production
  13. Climate Action
  14. Life Below Water
  15. Life on Land
  16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  17. Partnerships for the Goals

The works must reflect the areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet.

Judges will select a minimum of 30 finalist entries from the Sustainability category for exhibition and sale.

Accepted media

The submitted artwork:

Works can be any medium including but not limited to original painting, drawing, photography, digital art, sculpture etc.

  • Must be based on one of the five pillars – People, Place, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership
  • Can be any medium
  • Can be on any surface
  • If the artwork is a painting, drawing, graphic or photograph etc is must be able to be framed
  • Unframed artwork dimension must NOT exceed the size limit of 150x150cm
  • Sculptures and installation dimensions must NOT exceed the size limit of 180cm x 100cm
  • All artworks must be completed within the previous 12-month period, 30 June 2023 to 1st July 2024
  • The artist shall be responsible for all costs associated with creating the work 
  • Relevance to Australia and our society/environment is desirable.

Sculptures and Installations

Artwork MUST:

  • be able to withstand a high traffic environment
  • take into consideration the safety of a diverse audience
  • be relatively maintenance free during the exhibition period

Entry fees

  • All competition fees are non-refundable
  • Artists will receive a receipt of entry upon lodgement
  • To enter the following categories is $50.00 per entry (inclusive of GST):
    • Open Prize
    • First Nations Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists
    • Sustainability Prize


Entry process

  • Entries open on Friday, 1 March 2024 at 6am AEST
  • Entries close on Sunday, 30 June 2024 at midnight AEST
  • Entry must be submitted via https://ncapart.com.au/
  • Entry forms MUST be submitted and paid for online
  • Entries posted or emailed will not be accepted
  • Each entry must be submitted separately
  • Entry applications received after 12 midnight AEST on the 30 June 2024 will not be accepted.
  • All relevant support materials must be supplied including a high-resolution image in jpg, png, or tiff format not exceeding 5MB in size
  • Artists may enter a maximum of four individual works in the competition
  • Artworks can be entered in a relevant section in any combination (e.g. two entries in Open and two in First Nations or four in one category and so on)
  • Artists are liable for the cost of the collection of unsold work(s) and must state on the entry form how they will collect unsold artworks


2024 schedule

NCAP reserves the right to change competition deadlines and dates due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control. NCAP will notify entrants if there is a change of dates.

  • Online entries open: Friday, 1 March 2024, 6 am AEST
  • Entries close: Sunday, 30 June 2024, midnight AEST
  • Finalists notified confidentially by: Monday, 15 July 2024
  • Finalists publicly announced by: Monday, 22 July 2024
  • Online voting for People’s Choice opens: Monday 22 July 2024
  • Online voting for People’s Choice closes: Friday 13 September 2024, 11.55pm AEST
  • Finalist works to be delivered from: Monday 12 August 2024
  • Finalists works to be received by: Friday, 30 August 2024
  • Judging period commences: Week of 2nd September 2024
  • Official opening and award night: Thursday 26 September 2024
  • Exhibition open to the public: Friday 27 September 2024
  • Exhibition closes: Sunday, 13 October 2024


Judging process

  • The judges shall be appointed by NCAP in such number and of such qualification as it sees fit at its sole discretion.
  • If for any reason an announced judge is unable to judge the entries, the entries will be judged by the remaining judges and/or an alternate judge.
  • Voting for the People’s Choice Award will be conducted online via https://ncapart.com.au/ The public voting period is from 22 July – 9 September 2024
  • There will be no state or territory allocation of finalist places, however, NCAP will endeavour to promote the prize and artists who are selected as a finalist in the People’s Choice Award category, in their hometown, state, or territory through media outreach.


Copyrights

  • All artworks entered by the artist must be new, original, uncopied work, and must not infringe the copyright or any other rights of a third party.
  • All works must be made solely by the artist and be the property of the artist.
  • Artworks entered into the NCAP, and selected as a finalist, must be available for sale. To ensure this, all art must not be available for sale through any other forum from the time of entry in this competition until the 13 October 2024 unless returned to the artist beforehand.


Usage of images

  • All entrants retain the copyright of their works.
  • NCAP, third-party partners and promoters are permitted, on a non-exclusive basis, to use photos and descriptions of finalist artworks, acknowledging the artist, for the non-commercial purpose of archiving, advertising, marketing and general publicity, in print and online, of the National Contemporary Art Prize. Finalists will grant this license for a period of two years. Winners will grant this license to NCAP in perpetuity.
  • NCAP will always attribute the artist when exhibiting and reproducing their artwork including but not limited to when promoting or marketing their artwork. Every endeavour will be made to ensure third party promotors and partners do the same for a period of two years.
  • When reproducing the artworks, the entire artwork will be reproduced. No changes or alterations will be made to the artworks including to reproductions of the artworks, without the prior written consent of the artist.
  • NCAP may also use the artist’s photo and biographical information when exhibiting, promoting or marketing their artwork.
  • Expected marketing activity includes public and NCAP website display, and details in NCAP newsletters (printed and digital), publicity and social media.
  • Artists selected as finalists must keep confidential and agree not to disclose, display, or promote they have been nominated as a 2024 finalist for the National Contemporary Art Prize. Artists selected as finalists also must not display their entries on any social media, or any platform until NCAP announces it publicly on 22 July 2024. Breach of this section shall be treated as a breach of confidentiality and shall be considered a material breach of the NCAP terms and conditions.


First Nations usage of images

  • NCAP will not display or use any artwork in a context that might be considered by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community to be inappropriate, derogatory, degrading or offensive.
  • When displaying or reproducing an artwork, NCAP will make an attribution in respect of Indigenous Cultural or Intellectual Property in artworks in accordance with the attribution notice made by an entrant in the entry form.
  • NCAP acknowledges in the event of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander artist’s death, the subsequent display of their likeness may be culturally inappropriate and that, upon notification of the artist’s death and receipt of a request to do so from a member of the artist’s family or representative, agrees to remove any likeness or images of the deceased artist from any promotional material or publication under its control, to the extent that is reasonably practical.


Finalist artwork

If an artist’s work is selected as a finalist, it will be the finalist’s exclusive responsibility to deliver the original artwork to the NCAP for exhibition and sale and to make certain it is framed and/or gallery wrapped and ready for display.

  • Artwork must be dry and suitably framed ready for hanging, including D rings and string/wire.
  • Finalists can arrange delivery of their artwork to Canberra unframed. It is exclusively the finalist’s responsibility for it to be framed in Canberra and ready for judging and for display at the NCAP exhibition.
  • Artworks on a stretched canvas are considered framed.
  • NCAP will not hang any work deemed inappropriately framed or deemed unsafe.
  • Artwork must be clearly labelled on the back with:
    • Name
    • Address
    • Phone number
    • Artwork title
    • Prize category
    • Medium
    • Dimension
    • Sale price (including commission if an artist is registered for GST)
    • The date of artwork completion
  • The details on the label should all agree with the details supplied on the entry form.


Artwork delivery

  • Finalists’ artwork must be delivered between Monday 12 August 2024 – Friday 30 August 2024, during the hours of 10am till 4.00pm AEST only.
  • As regards artists who are not residents in Australia or concerning entries that emanate from outside of Australia, all selected artists will be contacted after the selection of finalists with full delivery details and dates.
  • The delivery cost of the work to and from the exhibition is the responsibility of the artist
  • The artist shall be responsible for any import custom charges and duties.
  • Framing or mounting of works, for exhibition, is also the responsibility of the artist and must be carried out prior to delivery.
  • Delivery must be presented in person, by proxy or a nominated courier
  • NCAP is not responsible for any insurance, delivery costs or freight of works during delivery.
  • NCAP is not responsible for any works lost or damaged during delivery or late delivery of works that may not be exhibited.
  • NCAP recommends the artist purchase their own insurance for packing and transit to and from NCAP’s place of business.
  • NCAP will insure the artworks while in its possession, care or control up until collection by the artist or the buyer in the case it is sold.


Selection of finalist artwork

  • The Judges’ decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
  • Finalists will be announced on https://ncapart.com.au/
  • Finalists will be advised if they have been selected and must not promote or disclose the information until it is made public by NCAP on Monday, 22 July 2024
  • Award recipients will be announced on the night of the official award ceremony on Thursday 12 September in Aawun Gallery, 11 Federation Square.


Award winners

  • Finalist artists are responsible for paying all travel costs and expenses incurred if they wish to attend the award night. They are not required to attend and NCAP will not reimburse travel expenses.
  • Award recipients will be advised if they have been selected and must not promote or disclose the information until it is made public by NCAP.


Exhibition and sale of artwork

  • If an artist’s work is selected as a finalist, work must be available for exhibition and sale at the exhibition in Canberra, ACT from the 13 September – 13 October 2024
  • NCAP will retain a commission of 35% for unrepresented artists.
  • NCAP will retain a commission of 35% for represented artists. Where an entrant is represented by a gallery, it is the entrant’s responsibility to notify their gallery of participation in this prize. The entrant acknowledges that any commissioning arrangement they may have with their gallery is separate from the commission retained by NCAP.
  • All funds generated through entry fees, partnerships and commission are continuously reinvested in the Prize to encourage artistic endeavour into the future.
  • Artists will nominate a sale price on the back of their artwork/s. This is the price NCAP can sell the artwork for. Alternate sale prices must be approved by the artist.


GST information

  • The stated sale price should be GST inclusive
  • If you are a registered business an ABN must be supplied.
  • Payment from the sale of artwork sold, excluding the 35% commission, will be made to the artist within 60 business days of receipt of full payment from the purchaser of the artwork.
  • Any income from the sale, including deposit, will be retained by the artist excluding the 35% commission taken by NCAP on the GST exclusive sale price.
  • All finalists must provide bank details that will be used to receive payment of any sold works.

Artwork exhibition

  • All finalist works must be available for exhibition and sale from 13 September – 13 October 2024 in Canberra, ACT.
  • NCAP has the right to exhibit the artwork as deemed appropriate.
  • Winners from Open and First Nations have the opportunity to hold a solo or joint exhibition within 12 months of the competition. Details and timings of the exhibition will be discussed and agreed with each winning artist at the completion of the public exhibition.

Artwork collection

  • The NCAP exhibition will close on Sunday 13 October 2024.
  • Unsold works will be available for collection from Canberra ACT at Aarwun Gallery, 11 Federation Square, Gold Creek.
  • The artist is responsible for the collection of their unsold works, which must be collected no later than 27 October 2024.
  • It is the artist’s responsibility to organise the safe wrapping and packaging of their own work/s for shipping, collection and transportation including the return delivery. NCAP is not responsible for any damages.
  • Any unsold work not collected within two weeks of the exhibition close (on 13 October 2024) may be retained by NCAP, who will have the right to sell or dispose of work as seen fit.
  • Works sold, but not collected by the buyer within one month of the exhibition close (on 13 October 2024), will be returned to the artist. The storage, postage and handling cost will be deducted from the sale price.


Privacy

Personal information collected as a consequence of entry into this prize will comply with privacy provisions. NCAP will use personal information only for the purposes related to the events and competition.

Force majeure

If for any reason beyond NCAP’s reasonable control, be it man made or natural disaster, e.g., flood, fire, pandemic, strike, government direction or other emergency that prevent NCAP from holding the completion/exhibition of works, NCAP can cancel or postpone the event. In such a case submitted works will remain the property of the artist and available for their collection.

Disputes

In the event of a dispute regarding the interpretation of conditions, the decision of NCAP shall be binding on all parties.

The artist agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with the National Contemporary Art Prize or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate court located Canberra, ACT. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these terms and conditions, the artist’s rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of NCAP in connection with the competition, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the ACT, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than Canberra ACT.

General

The artist shall not make, or permit any person to make, any public announcement, communication or circular (announcement), be it verbal, written or howsoever broadcast on any platform to include (without limitation) social media, on or concerning the existence, subject matter, results or terms of the competition, the wider transactions contemplated by it, or the relationship between the parties, without the prior written consent of NCAP, save where such information is already in the public domain or the express written consent of the company is provided. Breach of this section shall be treated as a breach of confidentiality and shall be considered a material breach of the NCAP terms and conditions.

These terms and conditions (as may be amended from time to time) constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersede and extinguish all previous agreements, promises, assurances, warranties, representations and understandings between them, whether written or oral, relating to its subject matter. Entrants will be informed in writing of any changes to these terms and conditions.