The Trades Hall Art Prize seeks to support the arts, workers, arts-workers, art by workers and art about working life. An annual Arts Prize, hosted in Paddy’s Gallery.

This prize is intended to support artists as workers and to appropriately compensate artists of all experience levels and backgrounds - you don’t have to be a full-time artist to enter. Art is for everyone.

The theme this year is "No future in nuclear". As Australia finally makes progress towards renewable energy, some conservative politicians are offering nuclear energy as an alternative. Show us your take on an anti-nuclear artwork or campaign material. Reflect on how a nuclear future or a future built on renewable energy will shape the lives of workers, their families and communities.

Applications are now closed for 2024.

From the submitted proposals 15 artists have been selected to create their proposed piece for the prize.

Finalists will be paid a $500.00 fee to create their proposed work. The non-winning finalists will also be paid a $250.00 fee, for loaning their piece to Trades Hall for the duration of the exhibition.

The winning artist will be paid $5,000.00 prize money with a total of $5,500.00, with the winning artwork to become part of the Trades Hall permanent collection.

2024 Timeline:
3 June - Proposals open.
14 July - Proposals close (has been extended from 3 July).
19 July - Successful artists will be notified.
20 September - Completed proposed works delivered to Trades Hall by this day.
2 October - Opening night - then on display throughout Melbourne Fringe Festival and November.
2 December - Works (bar the winning work) can be picked up from 2 December.

Entrants of the Trades Hall Art Prize agree to be bound by the terms and conditions listed here.