Budding artists between the ages of 5 and 18 are invited to submit a portrait for the Young Archie competition, as part of our family-focused activities for the Archibald Prize 2026 regional tour.

The portrait should be of a person who is special to you – someone who is known to you and plays a significant role in your life.

There are four age categories:

• 5–8-year-olds

• 9–12-year-olds

• 13–15-year-olds

• 16–18-year-olds

We prefer that the portrait is ‘painted from life’ and that your subject has a sitting for their portrait, as with the Archibald Prize. You may also create the portrait from memory or take your own photograph to use for reference.

We welcome entries from schools but, due to numbers, we strongly encourage you to first run your own internal competition then submit only your top works (up to 10) into the official Young Archie competition at Bank Art Museum Moree (BAMM).

The competition will be judged by a panel, based on merit and originality. The finalists from each category will be exhibited at the Gallery and on the Gallery website. One winner will be chosen in each category. Each winner will receive prizes provided by AGNSW.

Your artwork

• One artwork only per entrant.

• You may use any art materials you like but your artwork must be two-dimensional and on good-quality paper so it can be framed for display if you are a finalist.

• Can be vertical or horizontal.

• Must be A3 (420 x 297 mm) and no thicker than 1cm.

• Should be clearly labelled on the back with which way it should be displayed, along with your name, age, address and contact details. Make sure this doesn't show through to the front.