2025 Entry Information

TRAILS invites artists to submit contemporary sculptures to both a multi-location, interior exhibition trail as well as to a single-location, interior miniatures exhibition, totalling up to 50 finalists.

Main Trail entries may be up to a maximum size of 1800mm x 800mm x 800mm and will be exhibited around Portland’s retail centre. There is no minimum size requirement for the Main Trail.

Miniature entries may be up to a maximum of of 400mm x 300mm x 300mm and will be exhibited in a single interior location.

We encourage all artists, established and emerging to participate.

TRAILS Sculpture Prize is hosted by Committee for Portland.

To apply, please read all conditions and criteria below, and proceed to the entry form.

  • Exhibition: March 29 2025 - April 26 2025
  • Entries Open: Monday, November 4 2024
  • Entries Close: Friday, February 7 2025, 5PM
  • Announcement of selected works: Monday, February 17 2025

Eligibility

  1. For the purpose of TRAILS Sculpture Prize, sculpture is defined as a freestanding, non-site specific, three-dimensional object in any medium.

    Hanging works will not be accepted.

  2. All entries must be the original work of the submitting artist and must have been completed within two years prior to the entry date.
  3. Main trail entries must not exceed the maximum size of 1800mm x 800mm x 800mm, have a stable base and not exceed 30kg in weight.
  4. Miniatures entries must not exceed the maximum size of 400mm x 300mm x 300mm and have a stable base.
  5. Artists may enter up to three works in each category.

Selection Process & Prize Pool

  1. Selection of entries for exhibition will be at the discretion of the exhibition’s appointed curatorial team.
  2. The main trail will consist of up to 20 selected works.
  3. The miniatures exhibition will consist of up to 30 selected works.
  4. Selected artists will also be considered for an art trail commission.
  5. The total prize pool is $10,000, distributed as:

    • $5000 1st Prize (Main Trail)
    • $2000 2nd Prize (Main Trail)
    • $2000 1st Prize (Miniature)
    • $1000 (People’s Choice, Main or Miniatures)

Submission Criteria and Process

  1. Entries must be submitted via this online platform.
  2. An artist may submit up to 3 works to be exhibited in the main trail and/or up to 3 works to be exhibited in the miniatures exhibition. An artist may submit up to 6 works in total.
  3. Entries must include at least 1, at most 3, clear and legible photographs of each work.
  4. Each separate work incurs an entry fee of $30 (AUD), paid by bank transfer to the account listed at the bottom of this page and in the submission form.

    The entry fee is non-refundable except if the exhibition is cancelled due to public health guidelines or unforeseen circumstances.

Exhibition Criteria and Process

  1. All selected works must be available for the full exhibition period.
  2. Work delivery and collection details will be provided following the selection process.
  3. Artists selected for exhibition are responsible for the transport of their work to and from TRAILS. This includes freight and transport costs in both directions.
  4. Artists will be required to supply at least 1 professional quality photograph with a white background, in a standard aspect ratio, of each selected work.

    Artists may request TRAILS to facilitate these photographs, at an additional cost of $35 per selected work.

    See examples A, B, C.

  5. All works exhibited in the TRAILS Sculpture Prize will be for sale. Committee for Portland will deduct a commission of 30% from the sale price of any works sold through the TRAILS Sculpture Prize.

    Where appropriate, 50% of this commission will be paid to the artist’s representative.

    The sale price listed on the entry form will remain as the final sale price on all promotional material if the artist is selected as an exhibitor.

  6. All care will be taken when handling works, however Committee for Portland will not be responsible for loss, theft or damage. Artists are responsible for the shipping and insurance cover of their works.
  7. The installation of selected works within the exhibition will be at the discretion of the exhibition’s appointed curatorial team, guided by the artist submitted photographs.
  8. Artists grant TRAILS Sculpture Prize and its licensees the right to reproduce their work and biographical material by any means in any media for archival and promotional purposes. The artist and their gallery (if applicable) will be properly acknowledged in such material.
  9. While the Exhibition format is deemed COVID-safe, Committee for Portland reserves the right to cancel or postpone the exhibition, in which case the entry fees will be refunded.

Entry Payment

Each separate work submitted by the artist incurs an entry fee of $30 (AUD).

The entry fee must be paid by bank transfer to:

  • Julia Street Creative Space
  • BSB: 033-656
  • ACC: 132-605

with a 'transfer reference' including the word TRAILS and the artist initials.

The entry fee is non-refundable except if the exhibition is cancelled due to public health guidelines or unforeseen circumstances.

Payment Example

For example, Robyn McDonald submits 2 works, transfers $60 and includes the reference TRAILSRM in her entry submission.

Later, she submits 1 more work, transfers an additional $30 and enters the same reference, TRAILSRM.

Artist Queries

All entry queries can be directed to: