National Works on Paper 2026

 

National Works on Paper (NWOP) is one of Australia’s most prestigious acquisitive awards. A biennial exhibition, its role is to support and promote contemporary Australian artists working on or with paper.

With a long and rich history, National Works on Paper attracts leading contemporary artists from across Australia working in the fields of drawing, printmaking, digital prints and paper sculpture.  

Recent winners include d Harding, Anna Hoyle, Annika Romeyn, James Tylor & Laura Wills, Daniel O'Shane, Jess Johnson, Laith McGregor, Richard Lewer, Danie Mellor, Gareth Sansom, Paul Boston, Lisa Roet and eX de Medici.

National Works on Paper 2026
Up to $50,000 acquisitions and awards
Entries open Monday 2 February
Entries closed Friday 20 March
Exhibition dates Saturday 5 September – Sunday 22 November 2026

Read more about the National Works on Paper here - including past catalogues and 2024 judges videos

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

DEFINITION

Works may be executed in any medium on or with paper from the beginning of 2024. The paper must act as the main two or three-dimensional support of the work. The final decision regarding eligibility of works resides with the MPRG.

ELIGIBILITY

NWOP is open to Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia.

AWARDS AND ACQUISITIONS

Up to $50,000 acquisitions and awards, including the $20,000 major acquisitive award.

Works that are selected for acquisition will be purchased at the artist’s nominated price if the amount does not exceed current market value.

DISPLAY

Framed works will be displayed using D-rings. No other hanging devices are to be attached to the works. Unframed works will be displayed using pins or magnetic ‘pins’. Artists should supply instructions with their work where appropriate.

There is no size restrictions for entry, but please note that display wall height is 3.8 metres.

Shortlisted works must be available for continuous display from: Saturday 5 September – Sunday 22 November 2026

Please note that substitutes for works selected for exhibition will not be displayed and are ineligible for acquisition.

MPRG reserves the right to withdraw shortlisted works if deemed unsuitable for display.

TRANSPORT AND INSURANCE

MPRG will cover freight costs for shortlisted artists to transport works to MPRG and return them to the artist, or to a nominated freight depot where applicable. Shortlisted artists are responsible for arranging insurance, packing, and transport of their work to and from any freight depots, and for ensuring that works arrive at MPRG by Saturday 29 August 2026.

Upon shortlisting, MPRG will provide detailed instructions outlining the available transport options.

All works must arrive in sound condition. While MPRG covers freight costs, transit insurance is not included and must be arranged by the artist. MPRG will take due care of works while they are onsite, and all works will be insured against damage during installation, display, and deinstallation periods.

HOW TO ENTER

Artists can only submit one work. An entry will consist of:

a completed entry form
supporting material: digital image, artist’s statement, CV
$35 non-refundable administration fee

SUPPORTING MATERIAL

Images:

Please submit one high-res publication-quality image.

The image must represent the work in its entirety and convey the manner in which the work is to be displayed.

Digital image must be submitted in high-res JPEG format, 300dpi 2-3MB (If selected, the image will be reproduced at approx A5 size in the exhibition catalogue)

JPEG file must be titled in order of last name, first name and title of work.

i.e.  smart_jeffrey_selfportrait.jpg

* If you are submitting a film, please upload a still image in your online entry, then upload the film file to Dropbox, copy link and send to nwop@mornpen.vic.gov.au. Ensure your film file is saved as per naming convention above.

** Selected finalists will be required to supply a professional quality image for the exhibition catalogue by Friday 19 June if they haven't supplied a professional quality image for the entry submission. If a professional image is not received by that date, MPRG reserves the right to use a detail or not to include an image at all in the NWOP 26 catalogue.

Artist’s statement:

In 150 words or less artists should address the ideas, themes or concepts investigated in their practice and how this relates to the work submitted.

Statements to be submitted as a PDF or Word doc formatted in 12 point Arial.

Artist statements should be saved in the same format as image: last name, first name and title of work

i.e.  smart_jeffrey_artist statement

Please note selected artist statements will be published in the exhibition catalogue and MPRG has the right to edit statements as deemed necessary.

Brief CV:

Artists should submit a maximum 2-page CV highlighting key professional achievements.

CV to be submitted as a PDF or Word doc formatted in 12 point Arial.

CV should be saved in the same format as image: artist last name_first name_cv

i.e. smart_jeffrey_cv

All entries must be submitted online. No hard copy entries will be accepted.

All images and Word documents must be titled in the following format:

artist last name_first name_title of document:

smart_jeffrey_artist statement

smart_jeffrey_CV

smart_jeffrey_self portrait

(Please do not use any other symbols in your file name such as commas or ampersands as files may not be processed correctly.)

ADMINISTRATION FEE

$35 (inc. GST). Only one work may be entered per artist and only entries with online payment will be accepted.

The fee is non-refundable.

Entries must be received by Friday 20 March 2026.

JUDGING THE AWARD

THE PANEL

The judging panel for the 2026 National Works on Paper is:

Anne Ryan, Curator of Australian Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales
Teho Ropeyarn, Artist, 2022 NWOP Finalist
Raymond Arnold, Artist, 2018 NWOP Finalist
Rebecca Owens, Curatorial Lead, MPRG

The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Acquisitions will be announced at the official opening of the exhibition. The winner of the Major Acquisitive Award receives $20,000 (which includes the purchase price).

PLEASE NOTE

Please try to submit your entry online well before the final date. Users have experienced some delays with uploading their material in high-use periods. Please be patient while your files are uploading, this may take a few minutes.

IMPORTANT DATES

Entries close: 11.59pm: Friday 20 March 2026
Finalists announced: Tuesday 28 April 2026
Exhibition: Saturday 5 September – Sunday 22 November 2026
Official opening and announcement of award and acquisitions: TBC

PLEASE NOTE:

* A $35 payment receipt will be sent to your email and this is acknowledgement that your submission has been received.

FAQs

Please read our National Works on Paper frequently asked questions, if you have any queries about your entry, after reading the FAQs, please email nwop@mornpen.vic.gov.au