Bluethumb Art Prize 2023

For Artists > Your Bluethumb Art Prize 2023 FAQs Answered

Alexandra Guglielmino avatar
Written by Alexandra Guglielmino
Updated over a week ago

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What is the Bluethumb Art Prize?

Simply put, the art prize for all artists.

Having celebrated the 10 year anniversary of Bluethumb with a record breaking $250,000 prize pool, the Bluethumb Art Prize is back for 2023.

Now established as the biggest art prize in Australia, in 2023 the Bluethumb Art Prize continues to be the art prize for all artists. Entry remains free, meaning any Bluethumb artist can go in the running to win a share of this year's whopping $100,000 prize pool.

And we’re again excited to be hosting the awards ceremony in person, which will take place at our flagship gallery in Richmond, Melbourne on Thursday 26 October 2023.


What are the Bluethumb Art Prize 2023 categories?

All winners will receive cash prizes and will be invited to exhibit at the hugely successful Bluethumb Art Prize Winners' Exhibition.


The Bluethumb Art Prize 2023 Overall Winner will be announced on Thursday 26 October 2023 and receive the extraordinary cash prize of: $50,000.

The Category Awards will also be announced on Thursday 26 October 2023 and receive the following cash prizes:

Abstract Award: $5,000

Landscape & Wildlife Award: $5,000

Portrait Award: $5,000

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award: $5,000

Still Life Award: $5,000

Photography Award $5,000


Special Awards

In addition to the Overall Winner and Category Award winners, there are two Special Awards as follows:

The Founders’ Award:
This award is judged by Bluethumb co-founders and brothers Edward and George Hartley, and is for large statement pieces (at least 150cm on one side) as this is the most popular and in-demand artwork size on Bluethumb. The winner of the Founders’ Award will be announced on Thursday 26 October 2023 and receive a $5,000 cash prize.

The People’s Choice Award:

The People’s Choice award is voted for online by the public from the pool of finalists when they’re announced on Thursday 28 September 2023. The People’s Choice award winner will be announced on Wednesday 8 November 2023 and receive a $15,000 cash prize.


When do the Bluethumb Art Prize entries open?

Entries for the Bluethumb Art Prize 2023 open 12:00pm Monday 31 July and close 11.59pm Monday 11 September 2023 (AEST).


What are the key requirements for entering Bluethumb Art Prize 2023?

We keep it simple and easy for all of our artists to enter the Bluethumb Art Prize. Here are the key requirements for the entries:

  • Entry is free and the prize is non-acquisitive.

  • To enter you must set up a Bluethumb artist profile (it’s free) and comply with Bluethumb's Ts & Cs.

  • The artworks selected (up to 5 artworks per artist) must be original pieces (not reproductions or prints with the exception of Photography due to the nature of these art forms), listed this year, and comply with Bluethumb's Ts & Cs.

  • The artwork(s) entered must be available for sale on Bluethumb at the point of entering.

  • The artwork must be exclusively available on Bluethumb throughout the Prize Period (any artwork sold off platform will become ineligible) and until 30 November, 2023

  • Artworks entered into the prize may be sold on Bluethumb during the Prize Period. This will not affect judging or your eligibility to win. However, you can replace your sold entry during the Prize Period if you prefer (but a sold entry cannot be re-entered at a later date).

  • Each artist can enter a maximum of 5 (five) artworks into the Prize.

  • Each artwork must be entered into its chosen category (selected upon submission). There are no restrictions on how many of the 5 (five) entries can be submitted into the same category.

  • Entries open 12:00pm Monday 31 July 2023. Entries close 11.59pm Monday 11 September 2023 (AEST) (you can change your entries any time before entries close).

  • Judging is done online (no physical artworks are required). The Bluethumb Selection Panel will shortlist the finalists to present to the Judging Panel and Founders' respectively.

  • Finalists are announced Thursday 28 September 2023.

  • The winners of the Overall Winner prize and the Category Awards are selected by the Judging Panel; the winner of the Founders' Award is selected by the Founders; and the winner of the People's Choice award is voted for by the public. All decisions are final.

  • The Overall Winner, Category Awards and Founders' Award are announced Thursday 26 October 2023 in a live awards ceremony at our flagship Richmond Gallery in Melbourne.

  • The People's Choice voting opens on Thursday 28 September 2023, when the other award finalists are announced. The voting closes ay 11:59pm (AEST) Wednesday 8 November 2023 and the People's Choice winner will be announced on Thursday 9 November 2023.


How do I enter the Bluethumb Art Prize?

Any artist with a Bluethumb profile (which is free) can enter the Bluethumb Art Prize. It's easy! Simply watch the How to Enter video or read the instructions below.

If you haven't created an account yet - it's simple to sign up and upload your artwork.

Follow the steps below to enter the Bluethumb Art Prize 2023:

  1. Log in to your Bluethumb account.

  2. Go to 'My Artworks'.

  3. All the available artworks created and published in 2023 will have a button right next to them with the label 'Enter Bluethumb Art Prize 2023'.

  4. Click the button next to the artwork you'd like to enter in the art prize.

  5. You can then select the category you'd like to enter this artwork into, such as Abstract Award or Still Life Award.

  6. You can submit up to 5 artworks in the Bluethumb Art Prize.

  7. There are no restrictions on how many of the 5 entries can be in the same category - for example, if you'd like to enter all 5 of your artworks in Photography Award, you sure can.

  8. Once you confirm the category and enter the artwork, you'll see a confirmation screen acknowledging the entry. Also on this screen:

    1. You'll see a button to download your 'My Entry' sharetile for your artwork which you can use to share on your social media accounts.

    2. You'll see a helpful article on 'How to promote your entry' which talks about the channels and #tags to use when promoting your art prize entry, especially keeping our People's Choice award in mind.

  9. You can change your entry at any time until the entries close.

You will also receive a confirmation email within the hour of your last entry which will contain the links to the sharetile and also to 'How to promote your entry' article.


When will the finalists be announced?

The finalists will be announced Thursday 28 September 2023. Finalists will receive an email to notify them if their entry has been successful.


When does voting for the People's Choice award begin?

The People's Choice (see below) voting opens on Thursday 28 September 2023 when the finalists are announced. The voting closes Wednesday 8 November 2023.

Watch the How To Vote video then 👉 click here to visit the voting page.


When are the winners announced?

The Overall Winner, Category Awards and Founders' Award are announced Thursday 26 October 2023 in a live awards ceremony at our flagship Richmond Gallery in Melbourne.

The People's Choice award will be announced online Thursday 9 November 2023.


Can I enter a sold artwork?

The artwork entered must be available for sale on Bluethumb at the point of entering. The artwork must be exclusively available on Bluethumb throughout the Prize Period until 30 November - any artwork sold off-platform will become ineligible.


How do I nominate my entries for a particular category?

It's up to the entrant to determine which category the artwork fits best. The artwork will only be considered for its entered category. This year, we are allowing a maximum of 5 entries per artist. Artists can enter the same category more than once if they wish.


Can the artwork be sold on Bluethumb during the competition?

Art entered into the prize may be sold on Bluethumb during the Prize Period. This will not affect judging or your eligibility to win. Any artwork sold off-platform will become ineligible.


The Prize Period runs from Monday 31 July to Thursday 30 November 2023. For further information, please see our Terms and Conditions page here.


How do I promote my Bluethumb Art Prize 2023 entry?

Use our nifty share tiles to post your entries on your social media accounts and show the world!

Once entered, you'll see a button to download your 'My Entry' share tile for your artwork which you can use to share wherever your heart desires.

We'll send you these in your entry confirmation email (usually received an hour or so after entering). To save the images, simply right click on your desktop computer or tap and hold on mobile.

We’d love you to tag us in your posts so we can see them!

Instagram: @bluethumbart

Facebook: @bluethumb

Don't forget to hashtag #BluethumbArtPrize2023 to amplify the reach of your posts. Follow the hashtag to see all the incredible and diverse entries flowing in.

Or you could share via email, text, WhatsApp, Pinterest, your blog/website or wherever else you stay connected.

Finalists will be announced Thursday 28 September 2023. Best of luck 🤞


People's Choice Award

For the People's Choice Award, the public (excluding Bluethumb employees and their families) can vote for their 50 (ten) favourite artworks from Thursday 28 September until Wednesday 8 November 2023 and will go in the running to win a $2,000 Bluethumb art voucher + hand-painted Robert Gordon pottery . The winner will be picked at random and informed accordingly.

Please note: If we find or see any evidence of gaming, the entrant will be disqualified and those votes voided.


Thanks again for taking part in Australia’s biggest art prize, truly the art prize for all artists.

Your team at Bluethumb 💙

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