Welcome

A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MELBOURNE PRIZE TRUST

We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which the Melbourne Prize Trust operates, the People of the Kulin Nation, and pay our respects to the elders, past, present and future.

The winner of the $60,000 Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2023 is Maree Clarke. I would like to thank and congratulate our finalists, Kent Morris, Vipoo Srivilasa and Joy Zhou. For further information on all finalists, please go to our Announcements.

Thank you for your interest in the annual Melbourne Prize, which is run by the Melbourne Prize Trust and one of the most valuable arts awards in Australia.

The annual Melbourne Prize, now in its 19th year, continues its objective to provide opportunities to Victorian writers, musicians and for 2023, sculptors, demonstrating the importance of recognising and rewarding creative talent.

The criteria of the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2023 this year allowed for the $60,000 prize funds to be used for professional development of the winner’s sculpture practice.

To alleviate the cost of entry this year and as part of the judging criteria, there were no requirements for the finalists to submit a finished or proposed work for display at Fed Square. However, our award-winning digital virtual reality exhibition has been at Fed Square again this year. The non-winning finalists receive the sum of $1,000 + a $1,000 Qantas gift voucher.

Artists practicing in expanded fields of sculpture, including public installation, new media, performance, sound-based and socially engaged practice were encouraged to apply, plus entries from artists at all stages of their practice, including First Nations people and artists from all genders and cultural, linguistic and diverse backgrounds.

Thank you for your interest in our activities this year.

Kind regards,

Simon Warrender OAM
Executive Director & Founder
Melbourne Prize Trust

Supporting Victorian sculptors,
writers and musicians since 2005

Announcements

Congratulations to Maree Clarke — the winner in the $60,000 Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2023.

  • Maree Clarke wins $60,000 Melbourne urban sculpture prize for detailed glass renderings of nature, The Guardian
    Click here to read the article

The public voting for the Civic Choice Award 2023 has been tallied and the winner is Vipoo Srivilasa — congratulations.

  • Click here for information on the 2023 finalists: Maree Clarke, Kent Morris, Vipoo Srivilasa and Joy Zhou.

We acknowledge and thank the finalists and all entrants this year, as well as the Victorian creative community for supporting the annual Melbourne Prize this year.

The annual Melbourne Prize, which is run by the Melbourne Prize Trust, is funded through public and private sector community investment and we acknowledge and thank all our partners this year who have made it possible to offer the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2023.

Click here to support Melbourne Prize Trust.

Our Foundation & Creative Partner Playground wins a gold medal in the Melbourne Design Award 2023 and the Australian Design Awards 2023 for the augmented reality presentation, at Fed Square last year, for the Melbourne Prize for Music 2022.

An augmented reality presentation of the four finalists in the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2023 will be available at Fed Square between November 1 to 15.

Thank You

This year’s program is made possible by the generous support of our 2023 partners and patrons.

ABOUT THE 2023 DESIGN BY FOUNDATION CREATIVE PARTNER PLAYGROUND

Playground studios are a leading Melbourne-based design studio. As the Foundation Creative Partner of the annual Melbourne Prize, the studio develops the identity each year for music, literature and (urban) sculpture.

The inspiration for the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2023 branding evokes how the expanded fields of sculptural practice can bring spaces to life, activating and defining their identity. In all its forms, sculpture can transform streetscapes and the urban environment lending layers of intrigue, inviting interaction and forging character, which breathes new life into the built environment and in turn shaping our experience of it. This year’s graphics represent the perennial but shifting nature, texture and colour of the urban landscape.

WEBSITE BY THE MIGHTY WONTON

The Mighty Wonton are Founding Partners of the annual Melbourne Prize and have been with the organisation since inception. The company develop and manage IT for the Melbourne Prize and together with Playground, design and manage the website.

Key Dates

ENTRIES OPEN
15 May 2023

ENTRIES CLOSE
3 July 2023 at 5pm sharp

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED / VOTING OPENS IN CIVIC CHOICE AWARD 2023 
5 September 2023

 

WINNER ANNOUNCED
15 November 2023 on this website

CIVIC CHOICE AWARD 2023 / VOTING CLOSES 
15 November 2023 at 5pm

CIVIC CHOICE AWARD 2023 / WINNER ANNOUNCED 
16 November 2023 on this website

Partners & Patrons

Thank you to our 2023 partners and patrons.