Entry Information | 2026 Fisher's Ghost Art Award

2026_Fishers_Ghost_art_award.png

The Fisher’s Ghost Art Award is an annual art award and exhibition inviting artists to submit works in a variety of artistic categories and mediums. Now in its 64th year, there is over $60,000 in prize money to be won across the categories. In 2026, the celebrated Open Award, which is acquisitive to the Campbelltown City Council Art Collection, is valued at $50,000.   

Over the years, the Open Award has been awarded to some of Australia’s most respected contemporary artists including Elisabeth Cummings, Suzanne Archer, Marion Borgelt, Raquel Ormella, Justene Williams, Khaled Sabsabi, Tina Havelock Stevens, Kuba Dorabialski, Robert Fielding, Michael Cook, and Angela Tiatia.   

The Fisher’s Ghost Art Award coincides with Campbelltown’s annual Festival of Fisher’s Ghost. Held over ten days, the Festival dates back to 1956 and celebrates Australia’s most famous ghost – Frederick Fisher. 

Entries to the 2026 Fisher’s Ghost Art Award have now closed. For all enquiries related to the Award, please email artaward@campbelltown.nsw.gov.au.

Key information

Key dates

Entries Open: Monday 1 June 2026 

 

Entries Close: 11:59pm, Monday 27 July 2026 

 

Finalists’ Announcement: Monday 17 August 2026 

 

Artworks delivered to CAC: Wednesday 16 – Saturday 19 September 2026 

 

Exhibition Dates: Saturday 26 September – Friday 4 December 2026 

 

Award Announcement: Friday 30 October 2026 

 

Artwork Collection: Saturday 5 – Wednesday 9 December 2026

Categories

Open - $50,000 

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. 

 

Contemporary - $5,000 

Supported by Marsdens Law Group 

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

 

Traditional - $3,000 

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. 

 

Primary Students 

Supported by Rotary Club of Ingleburn 

Open to Primary school aged students, awarded to 3 students who will receive a $250 voucher for redemption at Eckersley’s Art & Craft. 

 
Secondary Students 

Supported by Wests Group Macarthur 

Open to Secondary school aged students, awarded to 4 students who will receive a $250 voucher for redemption at Eckersley’s Art & Craft. 

Awards

Macability Award - $1,500 

Supported by Macarthur Disability Services 

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

 

Aboriginal Art Award - $1,500 

Supported by Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation 

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

 

Macarthur Award - $1,000 

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). 

 

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

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 conditions (General)

View PDF(PDF, 90KB)

Application Process & Terms and Conditions  

Please review the terms and conditions carefully before completing the entry form. Artists must comply with all entry conditions to be considered for selection in the Award.  

Campbelltown Arts Centre reserves the right to reject entries which do not comply without refund of entry fee. 

Eligibility  

  • Artworks must have been produced within the last two years.  

  • Previous entries to the Fisher’s Ghost Art Award are not 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.  

Entry 

  • All artworks entered undergo a process of pre-selection. Successful entries are subsequently notified that they will be finalists and their successful entry presented in the Fisher’s Ghost Art Award exhibition. 

  • Forms, images and payments received after the entry deadline of Monday 27 July, 11:59pm will be deemed invalid and will not be accepted under any circumstances.  

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

  • Artists may enter a total of two artworks in two different categories.  

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

  • 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.  

Artwork Specifications 

  • 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.  

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

  • All artworks submitted for the Open, Contemporary, or Traditional categories must be made available for sale if successfully included in the Fisher’s Ghost Art Award exhibition. CAC will deduct a 25% commission from the specified price. The commission monies received go directly 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.  

Finalist Announcement & Artwork Delivery  

  • Successful finalists will be announced on Monday 17 August 2026 

  • Successful finalists must deliver their selected artworks to CAC between Wednesday 16 – Saturday 19 September 2026, between the times of 10am-4pm. Finalists will be required to submit AV files by Wednesday 2 September 2026 to allow file preparation time. 

  • 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: 

  1. a health hazard or physical risk to CAC staff or the public; 

  2. to pose any danger to the strict physical and environmental conditions of the venue; 

  3. in breach of WH&S guidelines; 

  4. not ready for display, for example if a work is wet, incomplete, structurally unstable, or damaged in any way; 

  5. 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. 

  • Finalist artworks which are not received at CAC by 4pm on Saturday 19 September 2026 will not be eligible for inclusion in the finalist exhibition and entry fees will be forfeited.   

Exhibition & Insurance 

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

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

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

  • 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.   

  • Artworks will not be insured by CAC in transit.  

  • 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.    

Communications  

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

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

  • The names of all exhibition finalists and their artworks will be published online and in print.   

Artwork Collection & Return 

  • All artworks that will be collected in person must be picked up from CAC between Saturday 5 – Wednesday 9 December 2026. Artworks being returned by courier must be booked for collection on Wednesday 9 December. Unless an alternate collection date is organised by the artist in writing, CAC reserves the right to dispose of any uncollected artworks. Under no circumstances will finalist artworks be released by CAC before the collection dates above. 

  • 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 (see ‘Exhibition & Insurance’ above). 

Terms and conditions (Primary and Secondary)

View PDF(PDF, 90KB)

Application Process & Terms and Conditions  

Please review the terms and conditions carefully before completing the entry form. Artists must comply with all entry conditions to be considered for selection in the Award.  

Campbelltown Arts Centre reserves the right to reject entries which do not comply without refund of entry fee. 

Eligibility 

  • One artwork may be entered per student. 

  • Entrant must be a student in the Macarthur area (Campbelltown, Camden, and Wollondilly local government areas). 

Entry  

  • A non-refundable fee of $5 + Booking Fee per artwork is paid when submitting the entry form. Entry fees contribute towards the costs of administering the Art Award. 

  • Forms and payments received after the deadline of Monday 27 July, 11:59pm  will be deemed invalid and will not be accepted under any circumstances. 

Artwork Specifications 

  • The size limit for all Primary and Secondary artworks (2D and 3D artworks) is 50 (H) x 50 (W) x 50cm (D). 

  • If entering as a school, artworks must be clearly labelled on reverse with school name, student’s name, and artwork title. 

  • Artworks for the Primary & Secondary categories will not be available for sale. 

Artwork Delivery 

  • All Primary and Secondary artworks must be delivered to CAC between Wednesday 16 – Saturday 19 September 2026, between the times of 10am-4pm AV files must be submitted by Wednesday 2 September 2026 to allow file preparation time. 

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

  • 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: 

  1. a health hazard or physical risk to CAC staff or the public; 

  2. to pose any danger to the strict physical and environmental conditions of the venue; 

  3. in breach of WH&S guidelines; 

  4. not ready for display, are wet, incomplete, structurally unstable, or damaged in any way; 

  5. 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. 

  • 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.    

  • Finalist artworks not received at CAC by 4pm on Saturday 19 September 2026 will not be eligible for inclusion in the finalist exhibition and entry fees will be forfeited.   

Exhibition & Insurance 

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

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

  • 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.   

  • Artworks will not be insured by CAC in transit.  

  • 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.    

Communications  

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

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

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

Artwork Collection 

  • All artworks that will be collected in person must be picked up from CAC between Saturday 5 – Wednesday 9 December 2026. Unless an alternate collection date is organised by the artist in writing, CAC reserves the right to dispose of any uncollected artworks. Under no circumstances will finalist artworks be released by CAC before the collection dates above. 

EDM IMAGE TEMPLATE _1200 px x 800px.png

Location

Campbelltown Arts Centre, 1 Art Gallery Road, 2560, View Map

Google Map