OpenCloses 22 Feb 2027

2027 Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (Telstra NATSIAA)

Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) · Darwin, Australia

Australia's longest-running and richest First Nations art award, free to enter and open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists working in any medium. Entries for the 2027 awards close 22 February 2027.

Deadline: 22 Feb 2027
Entry fee: Free

Enter on magnt.smartygrants.com.au

You enter directly with Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT). Opens in a new tab.

Your eligibility

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Who can enter

Location: Australia (by country of residence)
Age: No age limit
Career stage: Any
Mediums: Any medium
For: Indigenous artists
Work made: Within the last 1 years
Work: Previously unexhibited work only
Size limits: Maximum 300 x 300 x 300 cm.
Submission: Online, then physical if shortlisted
Also: Open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artists (individuals or collectives). Up to two entries: one individual and/or one collaborative work. Emerging Artist Award for artists within their first five years of practice. AI may be used but not as the substantial input and must be described.

About

The Telstra NATSIAA is presented annually by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artists, individually or as collectives, may enter one individual work and/or one collaborative work completed within 12 months of the closing date and not previously exhibited. Maximum size is 300 x 300 x 300 cm.

The prize pool is $190,000: the $100,000 Telstra Art Award for the most outstanding work, and six $15,000 category awards (General Painting, Bark Painting, Work on Paper, Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D, Multimedia, Emerging Artist). The emerging artist category is for artists within their first five years of practice. A Telstra People's Choice Award is decided by public vote.

Entries opened 10 August 2026 and close at midnight ACST on Monday 22 February 2027. Finalists are announced by 14 May 2027; the exhibition opens at MAGNT Darwin on 26 June 2027 and the awards ceremony is on 6 August 2027.