What Is the Archibald Prize?
The Archibald Prize is Australia’s most prestigious portraiture prize. It is awarded to the best portrait painting ‘preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics, painted by an artist resident in Australia during the twelve months preceding the date fixed by the Council for the exhibition’.
The Archibald exhibition in Sydney is the oldest and most important of the art prizes presented by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, having been first awarded in 1921. The prize winner receives $100,000 in prize money and a commission to paint a portrait of the individual chosen by the sitter.
Some of Australia’s most eminent artists have been recipients of Archibald in Sydney:
- Sir William Dargie (1940)
- Russell Drysdale (1948)
- Sidney Nolan (1949)
- John Brack (1955)
- Charles Conder (1890)
- Bertram Mackennal (1906).
To be eligible for the Archibald Prize, artists must meet the following qualifications:
- Australian citizen or permanent resident.
- The subject of the portrait must be a living person.
- The portrait can be in any medium.
- The work must have been completed in 12 months before being entered into the exhibition.
How the Archibald Prize Started
Archibald Prize is an annual portraiture prize awarded by the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The prize, which is Australia’s oldest and most prestigious portrait prize, is named after Sir Joseph Banks Archibald, a former president of the gallery’s board of trustees.
How Archibald Exhibition in Sydney Works
The competition is open to all Australian citizens and permanent residents who are aged 18 years or over. To be eligible, artists must submit a portrait of a living person that has been painted from life in the twelve months preceding the exhibition.
Artists enter the Archibald Prize by submitting their portraits to the Gallery for selection by a panel of experts. A shortlist of approximately 40 portraits is then chosen, and these works are displayed in the Archibald Prize exhibition. The winner of the Archibald Prize is selected by popular vote from the shortlisted portraits and announced at the opening of the exhibition.
The competition has 3 categories:
- Archibald Prize (for the best portrait painting)
- Wynne Prize (for the best landscape painting)
- Sulman Prize (for the best subject/genre painting)
Why Is the Archibald Prize Important to the Australian Culture?
What makes the Archibald Prize greatly significant to Australian culture is the platform it offers to Australian artists to showcase their work and to be recognized for their talent. The prize also generates public interest in portraiture and art.
Also, the Archibald Prize promotes values that are important to Australian society, such as mateship, egalitarianism, and a sense of fair play. These values are embodied in the prize’s motto, ‘he gave us a chance’.
Our Package
Here at Eventpod, we understand how precious your time is. That’s why we’ve put together this fantastic Archibald Prize package. This includes everything you need to get the most out of your visit to the exhibition. We want you to have a memorable experience.
Aligned with our dedication to offering unique experiences for your key customers and stakeholders, our aim is to ensure that your company’s ethos and goals harmonize seamlessly with these remarkable events. Our professional event organizers strive to tailor experiences that cater to your specific objectives.
Embrace the opportunity to indulge in the finest Archibald Prize corporate hospitality alongside our team at Eventpod. Let us elevate your corporate entertainment experience in Sydney and beyond with our tailored event management services.
FAQs About Our Archibald Prize Corporate Hospitality Package
Q: What is included in the package?
A: Archibald Prize hospitality package inclusions:
- A closed gallery for our VIP customers and their guests
- Invitation to the Archibald Prize exhibition
- VIP private tour of the
- Archibald exhibition
- Q & A by a finalist of the
- Archibald Prize with our MC
- Copy of the Archibald Prize book
- A three-course meal in the renowned ‘Crafted by Matt Moran’ restaurant inside the gallery.
- Wine, beer, and soft drinks throughout dinner.
- Canapes and drinks upon arrival.
