Darling Portrait Prize
National Portrait Gallery of Australia · Canberra, Australia
Biennial $75,000 prize for Australian portrait painting at the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, established in 2020 with support of the Darling family. The last exhibition was in 2024; the next edition has not been announced.
Your eligibility
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Who can enter
- Location
- Australia (by residence or nationality)
- Age
- No age limit
- Career stage
- Any
- Mediums
- Painting
- Theme
- portraiture
- Submission
- Online, then physical if shortlisted
- Also
- Australian citizens or permanent residents; painted portrait of an Australian sitter; one entry per artist.
About
The Darling Portrait Prize is a national prize for painted portraits of Australian sitters by Australian artists, held by the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra and funded by Marilyn Darling AC in memory of L. Gordon Darling AC CMG. The winner receives $75,000, and finalists are exhibited at the gallery alongside the National Photographic Portrait Prize. Only one entry per artist or collective is permitted; entrants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents.
Exhibitions have been held in 2020 (6 March to 27 September), 2022 (25 June to 9 October) and 2024 (22 June to 13 October). The 2024 round closed to entries on 31 January 2024 and drew more than 2,400 entries.
No 2026 edition is listed on the gallery's site and dates for the next edition have not been published.
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