KEY DATES
Entry opens: 30 March 2026
Entry deadline: 3 May 2026 at 11:59pm AEST
Application outcome notification: 31 May 2026
Installation period: 7-10 September 2026
Judging: 11-12 September 2026
Opening Night and Prize Announcements: 12 September 2026
Exhibition dates: 12-27 September 2026
Collection dates: 27 September 2:00pm – 5:00pm, 28 September 9:00am – 5:00pm
OVERVIEW
The Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival (“the Festival”) is one of regional NSW’s largest and longest running cultural events.
Held every two years, the festival transforms historic Wollombi Village and beautiful surrounds into a dynamic showcase for contemporary sculpture, inviting visitors to explore scenic vineyards, curated indoor exhibitions, and a vibrant calendar of events.
Our next Festival, scheduled for 12-27 September 2026, has secured more than $80,000 in prize money to be awarded across a broad range of categories. All prizes are non‑acquisitive, and every sculpture exhibited in the Festival is offered for sale. This makes the Festival an exceptional opportunity for artists in their professional practice.
The Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival acknowledges First Nations peoples and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country. Our partnership with Wollombi Valley Arts Council and Little Yengo Gallery aims to encourage individual or group applications from First Nations artists in all prize categories.
GENERAL
The Festival accepts a broad range of work. Sculptors at all stages of their professional practice are warmly encouraged to apply. Entries under the Open Category will be initially assessed for eligibility and then reviewed by a Selection Panel. Works that are selected will then be invited to exhibit at the Festival.
Once the selected work has been installed at the Festival, a specialist Judging Panel will award the Prizes.
Note applications under the Youth Prize Category will be accepted based on space availability.
Appendix 1 provides detailed information and eligibility criteria for each Prize at the Festival.
Appendix 2 provides additional information and eligibility criteria for Exposure Prizes.
Appendix 3 provides definitions of terms used throughout this document.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The following information must be included when you apply for entry into the Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival:
- The title of your work
- Contact details
- Up to a 300 word Artist Biography
- A minimum of 2 x Photographs of your work. Photographs must meet our minimum standard of 300 dpi and be either in JPG or PNG format and no more than 4MB in size.
- Up to a 50-word Artist Statement describing the work you have entered
- A list of the Materials used in your work
- Sculpture Dimensions and Sculpture Weight of your work.
- The Sale Price of your work
- A warranty that the work submitted is your own original work and does not infringe the copyright, moral rights, or other rights of any third party.
- Payment of the Entry Fee (if entering under the Open Category)
Additional / optional material that may be supplied to provide more information to the Selection Panel about you and your work include:
- Up to 2 more Photographs of your work
- Up to 300 words of Additional Information about your work.
Those entering under the Open Category may submit up to 3 entries.
Those entering under the Youth Prize Category can submit up to 2 entries.
ELIGIBILITY CHECK
Once you submit your application, it will be checked for eligibility.
The eligibility criteria for the Festival are:
- The work must be a completed Sculpture. Works in progress, concepts and drawings will not be considered.
- The work has not been exhibited at any previous Sculpture in the Vineyards / Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival.
- All required information has been supplied in the Entry Form.
All eligible applications under the Open Category will then be assessed by the Selection Panel for inclusion in the Festival.
ASSESSMENT FOR SELECTION
The Festival receives significantly more applications than spaces available to exhibit. To decide which works to accept, the Selection Panel uses subjective criteria that may include:
- Artistic merit
- Skill
- Suitability of the work considering the Exhibition Sites
Applicants will be notified if they have been selected to exhibit in the Festival by email on or before 31 May 2026.
Members of the Sculpture in the Vineyards Inc Committee are eligible to exhibit but are ineligible for any Prizes.
The decision of the Selection Panel is final.
INSTALLATION OF WORK
Festival Finalists are responsible for the transportation and Installation of their work.
Festival Finalists will be provided an Installation Timeframe (morning/afternoon) to install their work.
The installation period will be between Monday 7 September – Thursday 10 September 2026.
Festival Finalists must meet with a member of the Curatorial Team before commencing their Installation. The Curatorial Team will decide the placement of your work, and they reserve the right to reject your work if it does not match the information provided in your application.
Festival Finalists must provide all tools, materials and assistants required to display your work. This includes Plinths for Indoor Sculptures.
SECURITY, LIABILITY & INSURANCE
All risk associated with any sculpture exhibited by an artist remains with the artist at all times, including any loss, damage or injury to members of the public or festival volunteers. Sculptors are responsible for their own insurance cover if insurance is required. The Festival takes no responsibility and provides no insurance cover for accidental or malicious damage or theft of sculptures or any associated items including during transport, installation, de-installation and during the Festival irrespective of who handles the works.
The Festival is not explicitly covered for public liability insurance as a result of injury caused by an exhibited sculpture to a member of the public. 2026 Festival Finalists are responsible for ensuring their sculpture installation(s) remain safe at all times. All instructions from the Curatorial Team or site and venue staff must be complied with promptly. The Festival will assist to ensure your sculpture is safe for installation. If any protective barriers or warning signage for any sculptures is deemed to be required, it will be the responsibility of the sculptors to provide them. Sculptures will be assessed for safety after installation and the Curatorial Team may reject any sculpture it considers unsafe.
It is the responsibility of the sculptor, or representative of the sculptor, to maintain the presentation of their sculpture for the duration of the Festival. The Curatorial Team are authorised to move or remove sculptures from exhibition and sale for any reason.
We encourage all sculptors to obtain Public Liability Insurance. Not-for-profit arts advocacy body, the National Association of Visual Artists offers Public Liability Insurance as part of its premium membership. Further information can be found on the NAVA Website. Regional Arts NSW can also assist with an introduction to a reasonable Public Liability Insurance provider. Further information can be found on their website About Insurance – Regional Arts NSW.
AWARDING OF PRIZES
Appendix 1 provides detail for all Prizes on offer at the Festival*.
An Independent Panel of Judges will view the exhibition and select the prize winners. Principals of the Organisations offering the HSoA Gallery (London Art Prize, Australia) and The Kangaroo Valley Sculpture Festival Invited Artist Prize will view the works exhibited at the Festival and each will select the winner of their Organisation’s prize.
Any decision made by the Independent Panel of Judges and Principals of the Organisations is final. Prize winners will be announced at the Official Opening on Saturday 12 September 2026.
Some Prizes require future commitment from you, so please read this information carefully. You will be asked in the application process whether you wish to be considered for the various special Prizes.
Judging of work will be undertaken on 11-12 September 2026. Prize winners will be announced at Opening Night on 12 September 2026.
* Note that those entering under the Youth Prize Category are only eligible to be considered for the Youth Prize.
SELLING OF WORK
It is a condition of entry in the Festival that all works exhibited be available for sale. You will be asked to provide a Sale Price as part of the application process.
Sculpture in the Vineyards Inc. will deduct 33% of this price as Sales Commission if you sell your work. Payments from the sale of your work will be remitted to you on or before 14 days after the Festival closes.
Applicants are advised to consider any other costs that may be applicable to your work (such as GST or Commercial Gallery Commissions) when deciding on your Sale Price.
All sold work must remain at the Festival until its closure on 27 September 2026.
DE-INSTALLATION OF WORK
The official Collection Period for all work (sold and unsold) will be held on Sunday 27 September 2:00pm-5:00pm and Monday 28 September 2026, 9:00am – 5:00pm.
The buyer will be responsible for collecting their work during the Collection Period. Festival Finalists will be responsible for collecting unsold work during the Collection Periodor by prior arrangement.
It is the responsibility of the Festival Finalist to liaise with the buyer if they are unable to collect their work during the Collection Period.
The Festival will use its best endeavours to support this process but cannot be held responsible.
APPENDIX 1 – PRIZES
Prizes open to ALL applicants – Open Category
- Open Prize – $35,000
- Highly Commended Prize – $10,000
- People’s Choice Prize* – $1,000
*Note that the People’s Choice Prize will be announced after the conclusion of the Festival and will be based on the number of votes received from the General Public
Special Prizes that meet particular conditions
Small Sculpture Prize
Open to sculptures that are smaller than 1m high x 1m wide x 1m deep.
- Small Sculpture Prize – $5,000
Excellence in the use of specific Materials Prize/s
Material Prizes are for excellence in works that demonstrate outstanding use of a primary sculptural material. The Selection Panel retains discretion to determine the most appropriate category for each work. Categories under consideration may include:
- Excellence in Metal – $5,000
- Excellence in Stone – $5,000
- Excellence in Timber – $5,000
- Excellence in Mixed Media – $5,000
Special Prizes for Artists
Open to artists meeting particular conditions. Emerging Artist is not currently represented by a Commercial Gallery and has not yet held a solo exhibition. Local Sculptors must reside in the 2325 postcode catchment area.
- Emerging Artist Award – $5,000
- Local Artist Prize – $1,000
Exposure Prizes
These prizes require future commitment from award winners, therefore please indicate below if you wish to be considered for these Awards.
- London Sculpture Prize, Australia – Opportunity for solo exhibition at the Hampstead School of Art, UK + $5,000 travel allowance
- Sculpture in the Valley Prize – Automatic acceptance into the 2027 Kangaroo Valley Sculpture Festival + $1,000 transportation allowance
Additional information for these Exposure Prizes can be found at Appendix 2.
Youth Prize
Restricted to applicants submitting under the Youth Prize Category. Youth Prize entries must be no more than 50cm high x 50cm wide x 50cm deep and weigh no more than 10 kilograms.
- Youth Prize – $500 materials voucher
All prizes are non-acquisitive
APPENDIX 2 – EXPOSURE PRIZES – MORE DETAIL
LONDON SCULPTURE PRIZE, AUSTRALIA
This prize is open to small sculptures, indoor or outdoor. To be eligible for this prize a sculpture must measure 100 cm or less in height x 100 cm or less in width x 100 cm or less in depth (≤1m x ≤1m x ≤1m). The prize is a four-to-six week solo exhibition of a series of the winning artist’s works at HSoA Gallery at the Hampstead School of Art, London, UK, and includes a $5,000 allowance for travel to and accommodation in the UK for the exhibition. The allowance cannot be redeemed for cash – Sculpture in the Vineyards will reimburse the winning sculptor for these costs up to and including an amount of $5,000.
HSoA Gallery will announce and hang the exhibition and host a Private Viewing. The gallery is predominantly wall-based, with plinths available for small works; a series of drawings and maquettes might be most suitable for the exhibition. HSoA Gallery has hosted many internationally acclaimed artists including Sir Frank Bowling OBE RA, Alan Gouk and Qu Leilei.
The winning sculptor will be asked to sign an agreement with Sculpture in the Vineyards setting out the terms and conditions of this prize and further details and dates will be established in discussion between the HSoA Gallery and the winning artist. Insurance, import and export costs will be solely the responsibility of the winning artist.
SCULPTURE IN THE VALLEY INVITED ARTIST PRIZE
Only outdoor works are eligible for this award which is an invitation to enter and deemed automatic acceptance of a sculpture in Sculpture in the Valley 2027, held in Kangaroo Valley. It includes a $1,000 allowance for transport of the sculpture to Sculpture in the Valley 2027. The allowance cannot be redeemed for cash – Sculpture in the Vineyards will reimburse the winning sculptor for this cost up to and including an amount of $1,000.
Final acceptance for Sculpture in the Valley 2027 will be conditional on the quality and style of the piece entered for Sculpture in the Valley 2027 being broadly consistent with the artist’s Sculpture in Vineyards 2026 winning sculpture. The exhibited sculpture will be eligible to win a Sculpture in the Valley 2027 prize, and must be available for sale.
The winning sculptor will be asked to sign an agreement with Sculpture in the Vineyards setting out the terms and conditions of this award and will need to contact the Kangaroo Valley Sculpture Festival for further details regarding Sculpture in the Valley 2027
APPENDIX 3 – DEFINITIONS
Abandoned Work | Work not collected from the Exhibition Sites within 60 days of the Festival closing date. After this time, Abandoned Work is considered the property of Sculpture in the Vineyards Inc. Special consideration to extend this timeframe may be requested in writing. There is no guarantee this special consideration will be approved.
Artist Statement | An up to 50-word description supplied in the Entry Form of the Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival. If your work is selected, this statement will be used in the Festival Catalogue. The Festival does not take responsibility for the accuracy of this statement.
Category | On the application the entrant must choose if their work is an Outdoor sculpture, an Indoor sculpture or a work that can adapt to Indoor / Outdoor conditions.
Collection Period | All works (whether sold or unsold) must be removed from the Exhibition Sites either on Sunday 27 September 2026, 2:00pm-5:00pm or Monday 28 September 2026, 9:00am – 5:00pm. If you are unable to collect your work during this time, please liaise with the Festival Committee to make alternative arrangements. Uncollected works that remain onsite for more than 60 days after Festival closing date will be considered Abandoned Work.
Curatorial Team | Curator/s appointed by the Sculpture in the Vineyards Inc Committee to undertake placement of work at the various Exhibition Sites. The decision of the Curatorial Team on placement of all work is final.
De-installation | Removal of work from the Exhibition Site. You must return the place where your work was exhibited back to its original condition by the end of the Collection Period. Meeting this condition will be subject to sign-off from the Curatorial Team.
Editions | Work that has or can be reproduced in limited numbers and are essentially the same. Editions form part of a single entry
Emerging Artist | An artist who is not currently represented by a Commercial Gallery and has not yet held a solo exhibition. The Festival reserves the right to decide if a Festival Finalist meets this definition.
Entry Fee | A non-refundable entry fee of $50 is payable on submission of your first entry. This fee allows you to submit up to a maximum of three entries with the two subsequent entries being free of charge.
Those entering under the Youth Prize Category may submit up to two entries free of charge.
Entry Form | The application made by you through the Festival application portal. A separate entry must be submitted for each sculpture you submit.
Established Artist | An artist who is not an Emerging Artist
Exhibition Sites | Both indoor and outdoor exhibition spaces as determined by the Curatorial Team and approved by the Sculpture in the Vineyards Inc Committee.
Festival Catalogue | The Festival Catalogue will be in both physical and on-line form. Should you be selected, your entry into the Festival Catalogue will include one photo, your Artist Statement, the Material used and the Sale Price of your work.
Festival Finalists | Artists selected to exhibit at the 2026 Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival.
Indoor Sculpture | A work that can only be exhibited in an indoor space. The Festival is providing indoor spaces that are enclosed, waterproof, and lockable when not supervised by Festival volunteers.
Indoor / Outdoor Sculpture | A work constructed from materials and finishes that can safely withstand outdoor conditions, but which also presents as a fully resolved artwork in an indoor gallery setting.
Installation | Preparing your work for public exhibition. All transportation costs, installation costs and requirements (such as tools, materials and assistants) are your responsibility.
Installation Timeframe | The Festival will contact you to co-ordinate a time (morning / afternoon) for you to meet a member of the Curatorial Team and install your work. Festival Finalists are reminded that all members of the Festival are volunteers and adhering to the time allocated is strictly required.
Judging Panel | A panel of experts appointed by the Sculpture in the Vineyards Inc Committee to assess exhibited works and award the Festival Prizes. The decision of the Judging Panel is final.
Local Artist | An entrant who primarily resides within the 2325 postcode catchment.
Material | All material that has been used in creating your work.
Open Category | All applicants except for those submitting under the Youth Prize Category. Applicants submitting under the Open Category are eligible for consideration for all Open Prizes and any Special Prizes subject to additional conditions.
Opening Night | Saturday 12 September 2026. All Festival Finalists are warmly invited to attend this event.
Outdoor Sculpture | A work designed for open-air display, built from materials that can safely withstand weather and environmental exposure including but not limited to wildlife incursions.
Photographs | Accepted photos must be high‑resolution images supplied at a minimum of 300 dpi, ensuring they reproduce sharply and without pixelation in print. Accepted formats are JPG or PNG and the maximum size limit is 4MB. The quality of the photo you supply will directly impact on how your work is viewed on our on-line catalogue. The Festival does not take responsibility for the quality of the image that will represent you in our Festival Catalogue.
The sculptor owns the copyright of their work(s) and licences Sculpture in the Vineyards Inc, Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival to reproduce the artwork in its catalogue, website, publicity, media releases and any other promotions in 2026 and in later years in relation to the Sculpture in the Vineyards Inc, Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival.
Plinths | A solid base or block on which a sculpture is placed, raising it so it can be viewed more clearly and safely. All plinths must be newly painted in Dulux vivid white and include identifiers so that it can be returned to you at the conclusion of the Festival.
Public Liability Insurance | Insurance coverage required to protect against claims arising from personal injury or property damage caused by the artwork during installation, exhibition or de-installation.
Sale Price | This is what the buyer will pay. The Sale Price must include the amount you want to receive for your work plus the Sales Commission that Sculpture in the Vineyards Inc will recover from you plus any additional amounts you need to pay. These additional amounts – if applicable – could include Commercial Gallery Commissions and GST.
Sales Commission | Sculpture in the Vineyards Inc will deduct 33% of the Sale Price to cover the costs of administering this Festival.
Sculpture | A three‑dimensional artwork created as a single, self‑contained form or a unified composition of elements. It is designed to be viewed in physical space from multiple angles and made from any durable material suitable for the Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival Exhibition Sites.
Sculpture Dimensions | The height, width and depth of your work. It is important to ensure the amounts you supply in your application are accurate. Your work may be rejected during the Installation phase if your dimensions do not match the information you supplied in your application.
Sculpture in the Vineyards | The Festival has operated under various names over the years. This term refers to any and all previous iterations of the Festival held in and around Wollombi Valley not referred to specifically as the “Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival”.
Sculpture in the Vineyards Inc | The Incorporated Association that runs the Wollombi Valley Sculpture Festival Committee.
Sculpture in the Vineyards Inc Committee | The governing body of Sculpture in the Vineyards Inc.
Selection Panel | A group of practising artists, curators and collectors appointed by the Sculpture in the Vineyards Inc Committee.
Youth Prize | Restricted to school-aged students whose work is no more than 50cm high x 50cm wide x 50cm deep and do not weigh more than 10 kilograms.
Youth Prize Category | Established to accept entries from school-aged students only. Entries made under this category are eligible for the Youth Prize only. Applicants may submit up to 2 entries free of charge. All entries must be no more than 50cm high x 50cm wide x 50cm deep and not weigh more than 10 kilograms. Acceptance is automatic unless we exceed our space restrictions. In this case, there will be a selection process.
Sculpture displayed above: Stargate – Myles Naylor. Photo courtesy of Chris Southwood.