Young artists from across the Shoalhaven are invited to share their creativity by submitting a portrait to the Young Archie competition.
The competition coincides with the Archibald Prize 2026 regional tour and invites talented, aspiring artists between the ages of 5 and 18 to enter.
“The Young Archie competition is a fantastic opportunity for passionate young artists to hone their skills and showcase their talent to a broad audience,” said Mayor Patricia White.
“It is also a wonderful chance for young people to reflect on someone special who plays a significant role in their lives, and to highlight that impact through artistic expression,” Cr White said.
“We have seen some extraordinary entrants in previous years, and I have no doubt we will continue to attract a high calibre of submissions across all age groups. Most importantly, I encourage all school aged children to have fun and give this competition a go,” she said.
Submissions will be accepted by the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery in Nowra from Saturday 21 March to Monday 20 April, in four age categories:
- 5–8-year-olds
- 9–12-year-olds
- 13–15-year-olds
- 16–18-year-olds
Entries are also invited from schools. The competition will be judged on merit and originality by Youth Leaders from arts and community cultural development organisation, Beyond Empathy.
Five finalists from each category will be exhibited alongside the touring Archibald Prize portraits at the Gallery from Saturday 16 May until Saturday 18 July 2026.
The winners of the Young Archie in each category will be announced at the exhibition’s opening on 16 May.
