NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the New South Wales Parliament Plein Air Prize?
This annual prize is for a work painted ‘en plein air’ by an Australian artist of a New South Wales subject. The finalists are exhibited at Parliament House, Sydney and the winner is awarded $20 000. The winning painting enters the collection of the New South Wales Parliament.

What does ‘plein air’ mean?
The term ‘en plein air’ refers to the practice of painting out of doors, in direct engagement with nature, where the transitory effects of light can be observed and recorded. It has a history in Europe of several hundred years, the most famous exponents including Salvator Rosa and Claude Lorraine in the 17th Century and Corot and the Barbizon school painters in the 19th. In an Australian context, the Impressionists of the late 19th century, including Arthur Streeton and Tom Roberts were devoted to painting out of doors, and thus brought a new understanding of Australian light and landscape to the public through their work. Fred Williams, Australia’s great master of landscape painting in the twentieth century, used studies painted out of doors as the foundation of his work. These artists and others established a strong tradition of painting ‘en plein air’ in Australia that continues to this day.

Contemporary Australian artists paint en plein air both in the bush and the city. For many it is a private aspect of their work, rarely exhibited, which provides a complement to their studio work. For others it is their principal method of working. Australia’s climate and landscape has long proven conducive to working out of doors and continues to fascinate the public.

Who can enter the prize?
Australian artists may enter the prize. An ‘Australian artist’ is defined as one who was born in Australia or who holds Australian citizenship.

What are the subject requirements?
The subject of your painting must be from New South Wales. Some examples could include "Sydney Harbour", "Broken Hill Mine", or "Hillside near Orange", "King Street, Newtown". It may have been painted at any time but must have been painted ‘en plein air’.

What mediums are allowed?
Acceptable mediums include those traditionally associated with the practice of plein air painting (watercolour, gouache, oil etc) and those which are part of contemporary painting practice including acrylic, collage, assemblage etc

How many works can I enter?
You may enter up to two works.

What is the cost of entry?
The cost of entry is $30 per submitted work.

What are the size restrictions for works entered in the prize?
The work must not exceed 2000mm high by 850mm wide. This is due to the display space where the finalists will be exhibited at Parliament House.

How is the Parliament Plein Air painting prize judged?
The prize will be judged by a distinguished expert in Australian art appointed by the NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize Committee Inc. The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

What happens to the winning work?
The winning work enters the permanent collection of the New South Wales Parliament.