1. There is no entry fee for this award.
2. Entry open within Australia only. No International entries accepted.
3. This competition is for free-standing sculptures only. The sculpture cannot be hung from a wall or ceiling.
4. The sculpture must be no more than 70 cm in any dimension, this includes the height, width, depth and diagonal. The sculpture may include multiple parts but not extend outside of the dimension requirements. If supported by a stand then the height of the stand is to be included in the height of the sculpture. (This does not include a plinth, or other object that the work may ultimately be displayed on).
5. The sculpture must be not more than 30 kilograms in weight (including any stand required to support the work). The sculpture can be in any medium provided it is not inherently fragile, dangerous or harmful, and must be free-standing. Deakin reserves the right to decline acceptance of any entry that in its opinion fails to meet the entry requirements.
6. Finalists will be selected by the judging panel consisting of the Senior Manager, Art Collection and Galleries, Deakin University, and two arts industry representatives.
7. One outstanding entry will be awarded a first prize of $15,000 (ex GST) by the judging panel. To receive the Award sum, the winner of the Award must transfer ownership of their sculpture to Deakin University free of all adverse interests and claims and sign any documentation required by Deakin to give effect to the transfer.
8. One outstanding entry will be awarded a Highly Commended prize of $3,000 (ex GST) supported by UniSuper by the judging panel. This prize is non-acquisitive and the artwork does not become part of the Deakin Collection.
9. Payment of either Award to the Award winners will be made on provision to Deakin of bank account details. If the winner of the Award is registered for GST and wants to add GST to their payment, payment will be made on provision of a tax invoice.
10. The First Prize Award winner agrees to be available to give a 30-minute public talk about their work, if requested, either in person or online with all associated costs to be met by Deakin. A separate fee payable by Deakin for delivery of this talk will be negotiated with the Award winner.
11. The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence or conversation will be entered into regarding any decision made by the judging panel.
12. Separate to the above Awards, one artwork will be chosen as the People's Choice winner from votes submitted by exhibition visitors and will win a $3,000 People's Choice Award, this prize is non-acquisitive. Votes will be tallied at 4 pm, Friday 10 October 2025. Payment to the People’s Choice winner will be made on provision of bank account details. If the recipient has a business registered for GST and wants to add GST to their payment, payment will be made on provision of a tax invoice.
13. Artists shortlisted for the prize will be invited to exhibit their entries from Thursday 21 August 2025 to Friday 10 October 2025 at the Deakin University Art Gallery, Melbourne Burwood Campus, to allow for the University Burwood Open Day on Sunday 24 August and judging of the Award. The winner will be chosen from the finalists' exhibition and announced at the opening of the exhibition on Wednesday 3 September 2025. The winner will be notified if not in attendance at the opening.
14. Exhibited works cannot be for sale but if enquiries are made by members of the public they will be put in contact with the artist concerned or their nominated representative.
15. A limit of three entries is permitted per person as an individual or joint entrant.
16. Entries cannot be changed once submitted.
17. Each entry may be accompanied by up to four digital images (JPEG preferred), and must include the name of the entrant in the file name.
18. All entries must be the original work of the entrant (or entrants) and made within 12 months prior to the date of entry.
19. Finalists’ works must be delivered to the Deakin University Art Gallery on Tuesday 12 August 2025 between 10 am and 4 pm. Works will not be accepted at any other time unless by prior arrangement with the Art Collection and Galleries Unit.
20. Sculptures will be strictly weighed and measured on arrival. Any works not meeting the strict size and weight requirements will not be exhibited in the finalists' exhibition and will not be eligible for judging (all costs associated with this will be borne by the finalist).
21. Substitutions of original entries will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the organisers and only in advance of the arrival of the work.
22. Works need to be collected between 10 am and 4 pm on Tuesday 14 October 2025. Works cannot be removed at any other time unless by prior arrangement with the Art Collection and Galleries Unit.
23. All entries selected for exhibition must be available for continuous display at the Gallery for the period of the exhibition. Artists and/or their representatives cannot remove an artwork from display prior to Friday 10 October 2025.
24. Freight to and from Deakin University and transit insurance are the responsibility of the entrant (or entrants).
25. By completing the entry form and entering the work, the entrant (or entrants) warrants that the work is the sole and unencumbered property of the entrant (or entrants) and that there are no inhibitions or restrictions upon title passing to Deakin University in the event that the work is selected as the winner.
26. Deakin University reserves the right to reproduce images of the exhibition finalists as individual and/or group images for archival, internal cataloguing, or advertising and promotion (both in print and electronic) of the Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award.
27. Installation photographs will be distributed to finalists for sharing on social media platforms so long as the exhibition and photographer are both credited.
28. There will be an allowance for visitors to the Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award to take photographs of the artworks.
29. Deakin University reserves the right to cancel or postpone the award and exhibition without explanation.
30. Entries close Midnight AEST Friday 6 June 2025.
31. Employees of Deakin and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter this award.
32. All personal information gathered on the entry form will be used solely for the purpose of promoting and administering the Deakin University Contemporary Small Sculpture Award. The University treats personal information held by it in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act (2014). You have a right to access your personal information held by Deakin University. Requests for access to personal information are managed under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic). The University’s information privacy policy may be viewed at deakin.edu.au/theguide or by contacting the Privacy Officer at privacy@deakin.edu.au.