About

The annual Melbourne Prize and Melbourne Prize Trust

Launched in 2004, the annual Melbourne Prize recognises and rewards excellence and talent, inspires creative development and enriches public life by providing career development opportunities to Victorian sculptors, writers and musicians.

Run by the Melbourne Prize Trust, the annual Melbourne Prize is one of the most valuable arts prizes in Australia. Now in its 19th year, the Prize is funded by support from the private and public sectors.

To date, approximately $2 million has been made available to Victorian artists via the annual Melbourne Prize, plus exhibitions, residencies and travel. The Trust is listed on the Register of Cultural Organisations and has Deductible Gift Recipient status.

The annual Melbourne Prize is one of the most valuable creative development initiatives of its kind in Australia and runs in a three-year cycle.

The current cycle is:

• Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2023
• Melbourne Prize for Literature 2024
• Melbourne Prize for Music 2025

The annual Melbourne Prize is unique, celebrating artistic excellence under the banner of Melbourne – Australia’s cultural capital.

The annual Melbourne Prize announcement are made through this website, along with an event held at Federation Square each November. A digital catalogue is produced for the November awards and the public has the ability to vote for a finalist to win the Civic Choice Award.

The annual Melbourne Prize increases the public’s exposure and access to the creativity of our community and enhances Melbourne’s reputation as a cultural capital and center of opportunity for artists.

The origins of the Trust date back to the establishment of the children’s garden precinct at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and the commissioning of The Magic Pudding sculpture in 2000. Proceeds from the sale of limited edition miniatures of this landmark sculpture contribute to the Trust.

Please visit melbourneprizetrust.org

The 2023 design and identity is by Foundation Creative Partner www.playgroundstudio.com.au

Sarah Kempson manages the social media for the annual Melbourne Prize. Susan Owens manages Twitter for the Prize.

 

History

The Melbourne Prize Trust was established as an Income Tax Exempt Charity and Deductible Gift Recipient in 2005 and commenced the annual Melbourne Prize in 2005. The founder of the Trust, Simon Warrender, announced the annual Melbourne Prize, following the unveiling of his project being the commissioning of The Magic Pudding sculpture, as a centerpiece of a new children’s garden precinct in Melbourne’s CBD. The prize is established to provide opportunities for artists and recognise and reward excellence and talent, inspire creative development and enrich public life.

The first three year cycle of the annual Melbourne Prize commenced with the Melbourne Prize for Urban Sculpture 2005. The Trust funds the annual Melbourne Prize through cross-sector partnerships from the government and private sectors, and private patrons. The annual Melbourne Prize is open to Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents and residents of the State of Victoria. The home of the annual Melbourne Prize is Federation Square, where an exhibition of finalists, according to each cycle, is held each November. All recipients are announced on this website.

The annual Melbourne Prize was founded by Simon Warrender with the foundation assistance of Committee for Melbourne.

 

The Magic Pudding miniatures.

The limited-edition miniatures of The Magic Pudding sculpture, which is the centerpiece of the Royal Botanic Gardens Children’s Garden, have sold out. 

Proceeds from the sale of the miniatures contribute to the Melbourne Prize Trust and annual Melbourne Prize. Thank you to all those who have purchased a miniature.

The Melbourne Prize Trust would like to thank Helen Glad, Norman Lindsay’s granddaughter, for allowing copywrite of The Magic Pudding characters for the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and limited-edition miniature projects.

The Magic Pudding is a 1918 Australian children’s book and literary classic written and illustrated by Norman Lindsay.

(Photo credit – Melbourne Prize Trust – limited edition bronze miniature of The Magic Pudding sculpture.)

Donate to the annual Melbourne Prize

The annual Melbourne Prize, run by the Melbourne Prize Trust, has been providing opportunities for Victorian writers, sculptors, and musicians since 2004.

Operating with the support of private and public sector community investment, the annual Melbourne Prize helps develop our creative sector and positions Melbourne and Victoria as a place of opportunity for artists.

Click here to support the annual Melbourne Prize.

Donations of $2 or more are fully tax-deductible.