2025-alice-art-prize-website

The Alice Prize 2026 - Selection Panel Announcement

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:30:48 GMT

Yesterday, the Selection Panel completed the challenging and rewarding task of reviewing the 340 entries for The Alice Prize 2026, and we are excited to announce 63 works have been selected as finalists for this year’s exhibition.

On behalf of the Alice Springs Art Foundation, I extend our warm thanks to the Selection Panel, who generously volunteered their time over the weekend to undertake this significant task. Their thoughtful consideration, dedication, and professionalism are greatly appreciated,

We also appreciate the effort taken by all artists who entered. The depth, diversity, and strength of the submissions made this year’s selection process both inspiring and demanding. We are deeply grateful for the time, care, and creative commitment shown by every artist who shared their work with us.

Congratulations to the finalists whose works will be exhibited in The Alice Prize 2026. We look forward to sharing your work with audiences and celebrating your achievements.

As we now turn our attention toward the exhibition and opening night on Friday 27 March 2026, anticipation is building. We look forward to welcoming artists, supporters, and the wider community to come together to celebrate contemporary art in Central Australia.

With thanks and warm regards,
President
Alice Springs Art Foundation

The Alice Prize 2026 - Pre Selection Panel Member

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:41:24 GMT

Emma Bitmead

Emma Bitmead is Associate Curator at The Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth. She brings

extensive experience in modern and contemporary art and exhibition development, with a

commitment to fostering artistic innovation and engaging diverse audiences. Emma has served as aselection judge for prominent Australian art prizes, including The Lester Prize, Collie Art Prize, City of Wanneroo Art Prize, and The West Australian Pulse, contributing her curatorial expertise to champion excellence in visual arts.

Her professional background includes freelance curatorial work and exhibition roles at Craft South-West in the United Kingdom and the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. Across these positions,

Emma has curated modern and contemporary art projects, toured exhibitions, and collaborated closely with artists to create impactful cultural experiences. Her curatorial interests explore the dialogue between modern and contemporary art, with a focus on how these practices reflect and shape cultural identity.

The Alice Prize 2026 - Pre Selection Panel Member

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:40:51 GMT

Sebastian Goldspink

Sebastian Goldspink is a Sydney based independent curator and writer. He is a proud descendant of the Burramattagal people of Western Sydney

In 2011 he founded ALASKA Projects as a site to promote and support emerging and BIPOC artists and curators. In 2022 he curated the Adelaide Biennial entitled Free/State at the Art Gallery of South Australia.

He is passionate about the intersection of First Nations and colonial histories.

The Alice Prize 2026 - Pre Selection Panel Member

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:30:02 GMT

Dr Shelley McSpedden

Shelley McSpedden is Senior Curator and Head of Exhibitions at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) in Melbourne, where her recent projects have included Tschabalala Self: Skin Tight 2025 (co-curated with Myles Russell-Cook); The Charge That Binds 2024; Tennant Creek Brio: Juparnta Ngattu Minjinypa Iconocrisis 2024 (co-curated with Max Delany, Jessica Clarke and Elyse Goldfinch); Future Remains: The 2024 Macfarlane Commissions 2024; and James Nguyen: Open Glossary 2023.

Prior to joining ACCA, she was Senior Curator and Acting Artistic Director at Shepparton Art Museum (SAM), where she oversaw the inaugural exhibition program for the new purpose-built, landmark museum in 2021. Shelley has also held curatorial roles at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA) and National Exhibitions Touring Support (NETS), as well as academic appointments at Monash University and RMIT. She has written extensively on contemporary art and edited several art publications. Shelley holds a PhD from the Art History and Theory program at Monash University.

The Alice Prize 2026 - JUDGE

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 08:51:44 GMT

Dr Mary Knights

Dr Mary Knights is Senior Curator of Art at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Prior to that she was Director of the South Australian School of Art Gallery (SASA Gallery) at the University of South Australia. Mary has worked in the Australian arts sector for over twenty-five years and has held curatorial, arts management, and academic positions. She has written extensively about Australian art including co-authoring Hossein Valamanesh: Out of Nothingness with Ian North, and Irrunytju Arts based on twenty months in the field.