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The Hawkesbury’s reputation as a cultural hub will once again be in the spotlight with the announcement of the Hawkesbury Art Prize 2025 finalists, ahead of the awards night on Saturday, August 30, 2025.
A biennial award, the Hawkesbury Art Prize is open to Australian artists for a painting, drawing, or work on paper completed in the past year. The theme, Contemporary Australian Identity, invites artists to explore what it means to live in Australia today—our changing landscapes, diverse communities, and evolving sense of self. Photography, textiles, embroidery, and sculpture are excluded, ensuring the focus remains on works on paper and canvas.
Widely recognised as a significant national art prize, the award is judged by a panel of highly respected figures in the art world. This year’s judges include Rhonda Davis, Senior Curator at Macquarie University, and Dr David Cubby, Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University. Their task will be to select the most outstanding work from a field of talented finalists.
Purple Noon Gallery: The Stage for Excellence
The finalists’ exhibition will be hosted by Purple Noon Gallery at Freemans Reach, from August 30 to September 14, 2025. Since its opening in 2006, Purple Noon has grown into one of regional NSW’s most highly regarded galleries, showcasing curated exhibitions of both local and national artists.
Nestled at the foot of the Blue Mountains, the gallery itself is a work of art. Its sandstone walls, leadlight windows, and exposed timbers create an ambience that is at once historic and contemporary. The purpose-built space is dedicated to presenting exceptional art, with a strong focus on leading, emerging, and Indigenous artists from across Australia.
The gallery’s name is a tribute to one of the Hawkesbury’s most famous artistic connections—Arthur Streeton’s 1896 masterpiece The purple noon’s transparent might, held in the National Gallery of Victoria. Streeton’s painting immortalised the region’s landscapes and continues to inspire artists more than a century later.
Celebrating Identity Through Art
The Hawkesbury Art Prize has always been more than just a competition. It is a conversation starter, a chance for Australians to reflect on who we are as a nation through the eyes of our artists. For finalists, it is an opportunity to present their vision on a national stage; for audiences, it is a chance to be challenged, uplifted, and inspired.
As the countdown to awards night begins, anticipation is building for what promises to be a showcase of creativity, identity, and artistic excellence in the heart of the Hawkesbury.
Important Dates:
- Winners Announced & Awards Night: Saturday, 30 August 2025
- Exhibition of Finalists: 30 August – 14 September 2025 at Purple Noon Gallery, Freemans Reach
