2025 Fisher’s Ghost Art Award

The Fisher’s Ghost Art Award is an annual art award and exhibition inviting artists to submit works in a variety of categories and mediums. In its 63rd year, across the categories there is over $60,000 in prize money to be won. In 2025 the celebrated Open Award, which is acquisitive to the Campbelltown City Council Art Collection, is valued at $50,000.

Up to two artworks can be entered across the different categories, with one entry allowed per category. Exhibition finalists are selected by a panel with final judging by three industry professionals who collectively choose the winners for each category and award.

Entry into the Primary and Secondary categories can be done using this form.

For more information or to ask any questions regarding this form please email artaward@campbelltown.nsw.gov.au or call Campbelltown Arts Centre on 02 4645 4100.

Entries Close

11:55pm, Sunday 28 July 2025

Finalists Announced

Wednesday 20 August 2025

Categories

$50,000 Open

Supported by the Hazlett Family and Cameron Brae Group, The Friends of Campbelltown Arts Centre and Campbelltown City Council.

Open to all artists and mediums and awarded to one work. The winning work is acquisitive to the Campbelltown City Council Art Collection.

$4,000 Contemporary

Supported by Marsdens Law Group

Artworks entered in this category can be any style or medium of contemporary art.

$3,000 Traditional

Supported by Coonamble Shire Council

Artworks in this category must be created in a traditional style such as: still life, realism, landscape, portraiture or using traditional techniques.

If eligible, please select the following awards at time of entry in addition to your chosen category:

$1,000 Macarthur Award

Supported by Campbelltown Labor Party Councillors

Awarded to the best chosen work by an artist living within the Macarthur area (Campbelltown, Wollondilly or Camden LGA’s).

$1,000 Aboriginal Art Award

Supported by Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation

Awarded to the best chosen work by an Aboriginal artist living and working within New South Wales.

$1,500 Macability Award

Supported by Macarthur Disability Services

Awarded to the best chosen work by an artist living with disability.

$1,000 Joan Long and Vija Heinrichs Peoples' Choice Award

Supported by The Friends of Campbelltown Arts Centre

Awarded to the work chosen by popular vote in honour of the contributions of Joan Long and Vija Heinrichs to Campbelltown Arts Centre and The Friends of Campbelltown Arts Centre.

Terms and Condition of Entry

Please note: CAC reserves the right to reject works that do not comply with these conditions and artwork specifications without refund of entry fee.

Entry

1. All artworks are pre-selected for finalist exhibition

2. Forms, images and payments received after 11:59pm, Monday 28 July 2025 will be deemed invalid and will not be accepted under any circumstances.

3. A non-refundable fee of $50 + BF per artwork is paid when submitting your entry form. These entry fees contribute towards the costs of administering the Art Award.

4. Artists may enter a total of two artworks in two different categories. Please note that if multiple entries are made in the same category only the first entry will be eligible, and the entry fee will not be refunded.

5. For members of the Friends of Campbelltown Arts Centre, a non-refundable fee of $25 + BF per artwork is paid when submitting your entry form – please have your discount code and membership number ready at time of entry.

6. Staff of Campbelltown City Council, Campbelltown Arts Centre and members of the Campbelltown Arts Centre Strategic Committee may enter the Fisher’s Ghost Art Award and be selected as Finalists, but their entry is not eligible to be considered for any awards or prizes.

7. For artworks in the Open, Contemporary or Traditional categories, 2D artworks must not exceed 250cm (H) x 250cm (W) in size. This includes diptych, triptych and works in a series.

8. For artworks in the Open, Contemporary or Traditional categories, 3D artworks must not exceed 200cm (H) x 200cm (W) x 200cm (D) in size.

9. All artworks submitted for the Open, Contemporary, or Traditional categories must be for sale. CAC will deduct 25% commission from the specified price. The commission monies received go to the Friends of CAC, a not-for-profit organisation which supports the activities of the Art Centre’s active Friends group. CAC will deduct this fee from the sales price upon purchase. Any further commission fees (if applicable) between an entrant artist and their representing gallery must be agreed independently of CAC.

10. Artworks must have been produced within the last two years and previous entries to the Fisher’s Ghost Art Award will not be accepted. Entry warrants that the artwork is original and does not infringe copyright, moral rights or other rights of any third party and is the unencumbered property of the entrant and that there are no restrictions on passing on title to Campbelltown City Council if the artwork is the winner of the ‘Open’ acquisitive award.

Drop off

11. Successful finalists must deliver their selected artworks to CAC between Wednesday 17 September– Saturday 20 September 2025, between the times of 10am-4pm. Finalists will be required to submit AV files by Wednesday 2 September 2025 to allow file preparation time.

12. Finalist 2D artworks must be delivered with a suitable hanging system such as D-Rings attached for display.

13. Entrants of time based media artworks may be requested to provide their own equipment for exhibition.

14. CAC reserves the right to withdraw any artwork from finalist selection, or reject any work on delivery, without refund of entry fee if the work could be considered:

(a) a health hazard or physical risk to CAC staff or the public;

(b) to pose any danger to the strict physical and environmental conditions of the venue;

(d) not ready for display, are wet, incomplete, structurally unstable, or damaged in any way;

(e) unreasonable to install in the building and/or with the equipment available for reasons that include but are not limited to: weight, size, fragility, movability or materials.

15. CAC is not responsible for storing the packaging of artworks for the duration of the exhibition. Packaging materials for works will not be kept by CAC unless requested in writing (via email to artaward@campbelltown.nsw.gov.au) and agreed to by CAC.

16. Finalist artworks not received at CAC by 4pm on Saturday 20 September 2025 will not be eligible for inclusion in the finalist exhibition and entry fees will be forfeited.

Exhibition

17. CAC will provide all due care during exhibition installation and exhibition and will not be liable for incidental damage to an artwork, each entrant shall indemnify Fisher’s Ghost Art Award, Campbelltown City Council, and CAC for any loss or damage suffered to their artwork.

18. Entry will grant CAC a non-exclusive copyright license to reproduce images of artworks for publicity and educational purposes.

19. Finalist artworks may be referenced in education resources or activities directly related to the exhibition.

20. Time based media artworks may be shown on a show-reel.

21. The names of all exhibition finalists will be published online and in print.

Artwork Collection

22. All artworks that will be collected in person must be done between Saturday 22 and Monday 24 November 2025. Artworks returning by courier must be collected Tuesday 25 November 2025 and will not be released sooner. Unless an alternate collection date is organised, CAC reserves the right to dispose of any uncollected artworks. Under no circumstances will finalist artworks be released before these collection dates.

23. Finalists whose artwork is intended to return via courier must supply packaging instructions to CAC in writing to artaward@campbelltown.nsw.gov.au.

24. CAC must be notified in advance via email of any courier deliveries and pickups, artworks will not be released without prior written consent (via email to artaward@campbelltown.nsw.gov.au) from the artist. Artists are responsible for all costs and insurances involved in the transport of their artwork. Artworks will not be insured by CAC in transit.