Meroogal Women’s Art Prize
Museums of History NSW congratulate the artists whose works have been selected by the Judging Panel for the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2026 exhibition.
2026 Finalists
Ellen Bagge, Rebecca Boyd, Alex Bray, Gaye Chapman, Jill Chapman, Julie Danilov, Belinda Dawes, Danja Derkenne, Nicola Dillon, Naomi Droll, Liv Enqvist, Leonie Evans, Kate Goodwin, Freya Hilkemeijer, Wendy Howard, Freya Jobbins, Anita Johnson, Sue Kennedy, Gemma Lloyd, Kelly Mackey, N G Malla, Joanne McNamara, Lucia Mig, Alexandra Mills, Luanne Mitchelmore, Maria Pia Mosquera, Amanda Jane Reynolds, Lizette Richards, Lesley Richman, Alison Rose, Tracey Schramm, Olga Shashkina, Linelle Stepto, Susanna Strati, Sue Tesoriero, Charlotte Thodey, Paula Thistleton, Alex Thorby, Jess Wheelahan, and Sarah Yee.
Prize winners will be announced at the exhibition launch on Saturday 19 September 2026.
This biennial prize celebrates the achievements and creativity of women artists in NSW through works that respond to the historic house of Meroogal, its rich cultural heritage and enduring sense of place.
Museums of History NSW acknowledges the people of the Dharawal and Dhurga language groups, the traditional custodians of the land on which Meroogal sits, and their continuing connection to this Country. At this place of women’s stories and histories, we acknowledge in particular the thousands of generations of First Nations women who have lived in this area, and their role in sustaining family, culture, community and Country.
Built in 1885, Meroogal was the cherished home of four generations of women from one family over 100 years. Now a museum that elevates women’s histories, Meroogal contains more than 4,000 belongings accumulated by the resilient and resourceful Thorburn and Macgregor women and reflects their vibrant community life in Nowra on the NSW South Coast.
Artists from across NSW have been invited to submit artworks that respond to Meroogal and its meaning within broader historical and contemporary contexts. Selected artworks will be displayed throughout the property to provide new perspectives on the stories of the people who once lived there and the treasured possessions they left in the house.
The Meroogal Women’s Art Prize is a regional, non-acquisitive competition and exhibition. It is open to a work in any medium made by a woman aged 18 years or over who is a resident of NSW.
The exhibition will be on display to the public from 19 September 2026 to 24 April 2027. The Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2026 is presented by Museums of History NSW in partnership with Bundanon and Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra.
2026 Prizes
Residency Prize: $8,000, a Bundanon artist-in-residence scholarship* and a Museums of History NSW membership
Exhibition Prize: $8,000, a solo exhibition** at the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra and a Museums of History NSW membership
Highly Commended Award: $1,500 and a Museums of History NSW membership
People’s Choice Award: $500 and a Museums of History NSW membership (award to be announced at the close of the exhibition)
* Bundanon’s prestigious Artists in Residence program offers artists an inspiring and spacious environment to experiment with their art, fostering creativity, energy, and connection with other creative researchers. Nestled within Bundanon’s expansive 1,000-hectare property along the Shoalhaven River, the Artists in Residence Complex features purpose-built studios and accommodation.
The two-week Bundanon artist-in-residence scholarship includes access to a studio space and accommodation for one person. The artistic resident is required to supply their own art materials and to self-fund personal costs including meals and transport.
The artistic resident is required to complete the residency in 2027 and to negotiate residency dates with the Bundanon Residency Manager.
** A solo exhibition at the Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra will be offered to the finalist who wins the Exhibition Prize. The exhibition period, duration and conditions will be confirmed upon discussions between the prize winner and Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra. The exhibition must be held within two years of the award of the prize. The prize winner will receive artist fees for the exhibition at applicable National Association of Visual Arts rates.
Judges
The judges for this year’s prize are:
Henrietta Cheshire
Artist-in-residence, Vaucluse House, 2025
Zanny Begg
Director, Shoalhaven Regional Gallery, Nowra
Boe-Lin Bastian
Curator, Bundanon
Kim Tao
Head of Curatorial & Research, Museums of History NSW
Who do I contact if I have questions?
For further inquiries, please contact:
Dr Jacqui Newling, Curator, Meroogal Women’s Art Prize
Museums of History NSW email: mwap@mhnsw.au
Tel: 02 8239 2288 for Museums of History NSW reception.
2024 winners and finalists
Past event
Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2024
The biennial Meroogal Women’s Art Prize is now in its 20th year
Saturday 9 November
A creative fortnight at Bundanon
Jackie Streit, winner of the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2024, reflects on her inspiring two-week artist residency at Bundanon
Partners
Past event
Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2024
The biennial Meroogal Women’s Art Prize is now in its 20th year
Saturday 9 November
Meet the artist – Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2024 winner Jackie Streit
'Vexations in blue' by Jackie Streit has been awarded first prize in the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2024
Past winners of the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize
Now in its 20th year, we look back at the past winners of the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize – a regional, non-acquisitive competition and exhibition
Learn more about Meroogal
Discover the history of the house, the people who lived there, and the collection still held within the walls of this historic property
Past exhibitions
Past exhibition
Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2022
The Meroogal Women’s Art Prize celebrates the creativity and achievements of female artists across NSW
Saturday 17 September
Past exhibition
Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2020
Inspired by our 2020 themes of community, connection and impact, we’re delighted to be celebrating the achievements and creativity of female artists across NSW
Saturday 19 September
Past exhibition
Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2018
The Meroogal Women’s Art Prize celebrates the creativity and achievements of female artists across NSW, and pays tribute to the four generations of women from the Thorburn and Macgregor families who lived at Meroogal in Nowra for almost 100 years
Past exhibition
Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2014
Women artists from across NSW created works in response to Nowra’s historic Meroogal house museum for the 2014 Meroogal Women’s Art Prize
Past exhibition
Meroogal Women's Arts Prize 2011
The Historic Houses Trust has proudly presented the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize since 1998
Past exhibition
Meroogal Women's Arts Prize 2009
The Meroogal Women's Arts Prize is open to all women living on the South Coast and Southern Highlands
Past exhibition
Meroogal Women's Art Prize 2007
Women artists of the South Coast and Southern Highlands were invited to submit art works which responded creatively to the theme, Origins & Identity at Meroogal
Related stories
Celebrating women artists across NSW
The Meroogal Women’s Art Prize, now in its 19th year, was launched on 16 September 2022
In conversation with Ebony Russell
We sat down with the winner of the Meroogal Women’s Art Prize 2022
Museum stories
Make yourself at home
Meroogal became home to four generations of resilient and resourceful women, whose house was their livelihood as well as their home