Keeping an eye on prizes and competitions for artists!

Arts Law maintains an ongoing watch of terms and conditions in prizes and competitions for artists in Australia and overseas and gives those terms and conditions a rating out of 5 stars. Click here for more about our star rating system.

Entrants should always weigh up Arts Law’s ratings against the prize and possible profile-raising which may result from being a finalist or winner.

Latest News

PRIZE REVIEW: Harden Art Prize 2024

This month, Arts law has reviewed the terms and conditions for entry of the Harden Art Prize 2024. The deadline to enter is February 16.

PRIZE REVIEW: Best Australian Yarn 2023 

This month, Arts Law has reviewed the terms and conditions of the Best Australian Yarn 2023 in Western Australia. Read the terms and conditions of this competition here.   The deadline for this competition is 8:00pm AWST on 1 August 2023.  What is the rating?  Arts Law has awarded the competition 4 stars out of 5. Read … Continued

PRIZE REVIEW: MAKE Award 2023 

This month, Arts Law has reviewed the terms and conditions of the MAKE Award in New South Wales (open to entrants nationally). Read the terms and conditions of this competition here.  The deadline for this competition is 9 June 2023 at 11:59pm AEST.  What is the rating? Arts Law has awarded the competition 4 stars out … Continued

PRIZE REVIEW: We The Makers Sustainable Fashion Prize 2023 

This month, Arts Law has reviewed the terms and conditions of the We The Makers Sustainable Fashion Prize in Victoria. Read the terms and conditions of this competition here.   The deadline for this competition is 16 April 2023.  What is the rating?  Arts Law has awarded the competition 3.5 stars out of 5. Read on to … Continued

PRIZE REVIEW: Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award

Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award  This month, Arts Law has reviewed the terms and conditions of the Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award, a national award run by the Wangaratta Art Gallery.  Read the terms and conditions of this competition here. The deadline for this competition is 3 March 2023.  What is the rating?  Arts Law has awarded the … Continued

PRIZE REVIEW: Bundjalung Artwork Competition 2023 

This month, Arts Law has reviewed the terms and conditions of the Bundjalung Artwork Competition in New South Wales. Read the terms and conditions of this competition here.  The deadline for this competition is 28 February 2023.  What is the rating?  Arts Law has awarded the competition 5 stars out of 5.   How did Arts Law … Continued

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Arts Law considers all terms and conditions and also the value of the prize in reviewing a competition. An example of how Arts Law’s 5 star rating system might be applied to a competition where the only terms giving rise to concern are those dealing with copyright and moral rights is as follows:

5 stars: copyright remains the property of the entrant; finalists/winners only grant a licence for a limited time for limited purposes; there is a positive undertaking to attribute the entrant for their work.

4 stars: copyright remains the property of the entrant; all entrants grant a licence for a limited time (5 years or less) for limited purposes; no agreement by entrants to infringement of their moral rights (“moral rights waiver”).

3 stars: copyright remains the property of the entrant; all entrants grant a worldwide licence for an unlimited period of time for limited purposes; there is no waiver or limited waiver of moral rights.

2 stars: copyright remains the property of the entrant; all entrants grant a non-exclusive, worldwide licence for an unlimited period of time for unlimited purposes; moral rights waiver.

1 star: copyright remains the property of all entrants except for finalists who must grant an assignment of copyright or grant an exclusive, worldwide licence for an extended period of time for unlimited purposes; moral rights waiver.

No stars: all entrants grant an assignment of copyright or an exclusive, worldwide licence for an unlimited period of time for unlimited purposes; moral rights waiver.

Unrateable: unable to locate / must enter to receive competition terms

However, a star rating may be higher or lower depending on the other terms and conditions.

If a prize or competition would like Arts Law to review its terms for fairness to artists and provide best practice advice concerning amendments to those terms, please email [email protected] or call 02 9356 2566.

Please note: Arts Law amended the rating system in May 2015. The rating system above applies to prizes and competitions rated by Arts Law with deadlines from May 2015 and onwards. Competitions with deadlines before May 2015 were reviewed using our previous rating system.