Future Creatives

Exhibition partner

Future Creatives celebrates the achievements and creative practices of young emerging artists living in Geelong and regional Victoria.

2027 Future Creatives

This annual exhibition celebrates the achievements and creative practice of young emerging artists living in Geelong and regional Victoria who completed their Victorian Certificate of Education in 2026.

Future Creatives showcases young people’s creative talents in art and design and provides a valuable opportunity to support the professional development of career pathways and future tertiary studies in art and design.

Free entry

A Geelong Gallery exhibition

Important dates

Entries open: Monday 24 August, 2026, 10.00am
Entries close: Friday 6 November 2026, 5.00pm
Shortlist announced: Friday 11 December 2026

Entry form

Conditions of entry

1. Future Creatives 2027 is an exhibition that celebrates the achievements and creative practice of young emerging artists living in Geelong and Regional Victoria who completed their Victorian Certificate of Education in 2026 studying either Art Making and Exhibiting, Art Creative Practice, Media, Product Design and Technologies or Visual Communication Design. Conducted by Geelong Gallery Ltd. (the Gallery). Each entrant may submit up to two works for consideration.

2. Using the online entry form on the Gallery website, entrants must submit a completed entry form per entry, attach a digital image of their work and include an artist’s statement to be eligible for shortlisting. Upon lodgment, acknowledgement of entry will be sent to entrants via an automated email.

3. Upload digital image—one image per work will be accepted. Digital image to be supplied as JPEG file, 300dpi. Images should be saved with the following details as the file name: artist’s surname_artist’s firstname_title.jpeg. Entrants are advised to submit high quality images as those supplied at time of entry will be used by the Gallery for shortlisting, publication and promotion (should the work be selected for exhibition).

Only an image uploaded through the Geelong Gallery online entry form will be accepted.

4. An entry must be an original work of the entrant and must have been executed in 2026.

5. An entry must be:

(a) a work of dimensions not exceeding (h) 183.0 cm x (w) 244.0 cm (including frame). Multiple panels may be accepted where these constitute a single entry and do not exceed the specified dimensions in total;

(b) in the possession of the student

(d) appropriate for public exhibition

(e) provided with evidence of copyright clearance and/or citation for all non-original material used

(f) submitted with an artist’s statement (max 250 words)

6. A correctly completed entry form accepting these conditions, artist’s statement and attached images must be lodged on the Gallery’s website by the closing date: Friday 6 November, 2026 (5.00pm). Entries lodged after the closing date will not be processed.

7. The Gallery shall appoint the judging panel that will, in the first instance, view all entries (digital images) that comply with the conditions of entry and select a limited number of works for inclusion in the exhibition. The judging panel reserves the right to exhibit, or not exhibit, any work entered.

8. Each entrant whose work is selected for inclusion in the exhibition will be notified by email on Friday 11 December, 2026 and will be advised when to deliver the selected works to the Gallery. It is the responsibility of the entrant to arrange all aspects relating to the delivery of the work (whether personally or by an art courier). All associated costs are the responsibility of the entrant. Please note that substitutes for works first entered by the closing date will not be accepted. Unsuccessful entrants will be notified by email.

9. The selected work must be:

(a) available for display throughout the duration of the exhibition;

(b) professionally presented and ready for installation. It should be suitably prepared for hanging and D-rings must be attached to the back of the frame (or stretchers if unframed) on the left and right vertical edges to enable safe hanging from two points. Wires must not be attached. If, for any reason, the hanging system is unsuitable, under the conditions of entry, the entrant gives permission to the Gallery to attach a hanging system (D-rings) to the selected work (or modify existing) for the duration of the exhibition;

(c) securely packaged to ensure safe transport to and from the Gallery. The packaging must be clearly labelled (with the entrant’s name, title and date of the work) and suitable for the Gallery to re-use for the return of the selected work.

The Gallery reserves the right to exclude works that do not meet the required standard for display.

10. The selected work will not be received at the Gallery unless free of charge to the Gallery. No payment will be made by the Gallery for freight, or any other charge incurred in the delivery and/or return of the selected painting.

11. Best practice in the handling and care of works will be implemented at all times by Gallery staff, however, the Gallery will not be responsible for any loss or damage to any work in its possession or under its control. Each entrant shall indemnify the Gallery against any loss or damage suffered to the selected work. Insurance coverage is the full responsibility of the entrant (transit and in-situ) and is recommended by the Gallery. Works will not be insured by the Gallery.

12. Each entrant specifically permits and authorises the Gallery to reproduce the selected work (in full or detail) via print or electronic media for publicity, reports, catalogues and any other publications related to the exhibition. The Gallery reserves the right to reproduce acquired works in the subsequent promotion of the exhibition, the Gallery and its collection. Acknowledgment of authorship will be duly made. Copyright permission will be sought should the Gallery receive an external request (from an institution or publisher) for reproduction of an acquired work.

13. The judging panel shall solely determine the shortlisted entries to be exhibited in the Future Creatives 2027 exhibition. The judging panel’s decision will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

14. The Gallery will contact entrants a week before the collection date for confirmation of arrangements for the collection of exhibited works. It is the responsibility of the entrant to arrange all aspects relating to the collection of the work (whether personally or by an art courier). All associated costs are the responsibility of the entrant.

15. Works can be collected from the Gallery at a prearranged time and during business hours between 10.00am and 4.00pm. Should collection outside these hours be required, the Gallery must be informed of this at the time confirmation of arrangements for the collection of exhibited works is sought.

16. If the artist does not collect a work, the Gallery will give one month’s notice of intention to dispose of the work, by sending a notice by email to the artist. If it is the opinion of the Gallery that the work is unsaleable then the Gallery may destroy or otherwise dispose of it in any manner they deem fit and shall be under no liability whatsoever to the artist in respect of the work so destroyed or disposed of.

17. If your work has been shortlisted or accepted into another VCE exhibition, please contact Assistant Curator, Lana De Lorenzi lana@geelonggallery.org.au immediately.

Future Creatives