The Broken Hill City Art Gallery, Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Health Corporation, and West Darling Arts invites Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists living in the Maari Ma / West Darling Arts region to enter the 2025 Maari Ma Indigenous Art Awards (MMIAA).
MMIAA provides a platform to showcase and celebrate the depth and diversity of First Nations creativity across Far West New South Wales.
In Maari Ma's 30th anniversary year, the Awards return with an increased prize pool of $19,500 (cash and prize packs).
In 2024, the Open Art Prize was awarded to Bilyara Bates for Karnu Tharlta, Sandstone (stone on stone – traditional method, 2024), setting a strong benchmark for this year's entries.
This year the awards also welcome curator, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collections and Exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Rebecca Ray as the official judge.
"I am a mainland Torres Strait Islander woman and an experienced First Nations curator, writer and researcher with a dedicated focus on decolonisation methodologies and practice within institutions," she said.
"My work is artist and community centred and based on collaboration and two-way relationship building fostered on transparency, authenticity and cultural autonomy.
"I hold a Bachelor of Arts and am sociologically trained with an interest in identity politics, intersectionality and race theory."
When it comes to entry requirements, artists may submit up to two works created within the last 12 months, with a maximum size of 1500 mm × 1500 mm. Entrants must also reside within the Maari Ma region, and the prize is non-acquisitive.
Works (with labels securely attached) should be delivered to the Broken Hill City Art Gallery on Sunday the 2nd of November 2025, 10 am–4 pm. Entries can be completed online at the Gallery's website.
2025 Categories & Prizes Include:
Open / Overall Winner (all mediums) - $5,000
2D Winner (2D works only) - $2,500
Sculptural Winner (3D works only) -$2,500
Emerging Winner (all mediums) - $2,000
Nhuungku Winner (female artists, all mediums)- $2,000
People's Choice (all mediums) - $2,000
School Combined Entry (all mediums) - Art prize pack valued at $2,000
Young Artist (16–21) (all mediums) - Art prize pack valued at $1,000
Young Artist (Under 15) (all mediums) - Art prize pack valued at $500 (sponsored by West Darling Arts)
Opening night and prize announcements will take place on Friday the 7th of November 2025, with the exhibition running from the 7th of Nonmember – 8th of February 2026.
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