54th Bacchus Marsh Rotary Art Show
Regional Victoria's longest running art show!
King’s Birthday Weekend 6 - 8th June 2026
This prestigious show continues to attract entries from all over Victoria and interstate and
past NGV judges have consistently praised the high standard of the artworks presented in the show.
Our 2026 judge is a senior curator from the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.
past NGV judges have consistently praised the high standard of the artworks presented in the show.
Our 2026 judge is a senior curator from the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.
Prizewinners for 2026
Diana Gibson Award for the Best Oil Painting in the Show
First Prize: Jo Reitze for “Cloudehill”
Second Prize: Christine Annett for “Boab Tree Northern Territory”
Third Prize: Alan D’Eas-Fry for “Kettle and Glass Bowl”
Diana Gibson Award for the Best Watercolour in the Show
First Prize: Richard Jones for “The Pianist”
Second Prize: Nina Volk for “4 x 4 Only Track”
Third Prize: Dina Matei for “Little Princess of Innocence”
Diana Gibson Award for the Best any other Medium in the Show
First Prize: Anne Lilly for her acrylic “Lounging Days”
Second Prize: Vida Pearson for her linocut “Blue-faced Honeyeaters”
Sponsored by Sam Rae Federal Member for Hawke:
The Bacchus Marsh Community Bank Choice Award - An Acquisitive Prize
To Peter Clarke for his watercolour “Baby Black Morning Coffee - BM”
Grow West – for the best interpretation of the work of Grow West –
This an Acquisitive Prize
To Colin Clark for his linocut “Beneath they Speak”
The Moorabool Shire Award for the Best Photograph
First Prize: Stuart Bazga for “In the Theatre of Glitter”
Second Prize: James Buntine for “Shadow over the Marsh”
The Award for the Best Artwork by a Local Artist
sponsored by Steve McGhie – State Member for Melton
Winner: Ray Newton for his oil “The Avenue Queen”
Bacchus Marsh Community Bank Award for the Best 21 Years and Under
Winner: Ariana Kelly for her acrylic “The Brunswick Ballroom”
The Bacchus Marsh Community Bank Award for the Best Small Painting
Winner: Madeleine Szymanski for her watercolour “Spring Semester”
The Award for the Best Sculpture
Sponsored by Michaela Settle – State Member for Eureka
To Ri Van Veen for “The Leaving”
People’s Choice Award
Equal First Prize winners:
Richard Jones for “The Pianist”
Ariana Kelly for her acrylic “The Brunswick Ballroom”
2026 Moorabool Shire Acquisitions are:
Ri Van Veen’s Clay Sculpture “Endless Teardrop” and
James Buntine’s Photograph “Shadow over the Marsh”
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Our Judge for 2026
Shelley McSpedden Shelley McSpedden is Senior Curator and Head of Exhibitions at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) in Melbourne, where her recent projects have included Julius von Bismarck 2026 (upcoming); Tschabalala Self: Skin Tight 2025 (co-curated with Myles Russell-Cook); The Charge That Binds 2024; Tennant Creek Brio: Juparnta Ngattu Minjinypa Iconocrisis 2024 (co-curated with Max Delany, Jessica Clarke and Elyse Goldfinch); Future Remains: The 2024 Macfarlane Commissions 2024; and James Nguyen: Open Glossary 2023. Prior to joining ACCA, Shelley was Senior Curator and Acting Artistic Director at Shepparton Art Museum (SAM), where she oversaw the inaugural exhibition program for the new purpose-built, landmark museum in 2021. Shelley has also held curatorial roles at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA) and National Exhibitions Touring Support (NETS), as well as academic appointments at Monash University and RMIT. Shelley holds a PhD from the Art History and Theory program at Monash University. |
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Artist in residence. Alison Durham
Alison's artistic journey is a tapestry woven with rich experiences and diverse influences. Nature's colours and emotions guide her creations,while her background in fashion and education infuses her work with depth and insight. With a penchant for repurposing old fabric and metal, Alison breathes new life into materials, imbuing them with memories from their previous purposes. Constantly seeking growth, Alison eagerly participates in workshops led by renowned artists, exploring novel mediums and techniques. Presently, her artistic focus centres on printing, book art, and the sculptural manipulation of paper, each avenue offering boundless opportunities for expression and narrative exploration. |
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Additional things to look for over the weekend:
Children’s Quiz
The ever-popular children’s quiz will once again be available to the very youngest of our art lovers. Presented with a sheet of questions and a pencil, children must use their visual and detective skills to track down special animals or objects depicted in the artworks. A sweet prize will likely reward a task well done.
Raffle
Purchase of a $2.00 ticket will give you the unique opportunity to win one of 5 prizes which include 4 original artworks and one of wine.
Children’s Quiz
The ever-popular children’s quiz will once again be available to the very youngest of our art lovers. Presented with a sheet of questions and a pencil, children must use their visual and detective skills to track down special animals or objects depicted in the artworks. A sweet prize will likely reward a task well done.
Raffle
Purchase of a $2.00 ticket will give you the unique opportunity to win one of 5 prizes which include 4 original artworks and one of wine.
2026 Weekend Opening times:
Fri 5th June Art Show open 7pm to 10pm.
Sat 6th June Art Show open 10am to 4pm.
Sun 7th June Art Show open 10am to 4pm.
Mon 8th June Art Show open until 4pm. Artist pickup from 5-6pm.
Ticket Categories:
Family (2 adults and school-age children) – $20
Adults – $10
Children (school-age) – $5
Pre-school children – Free
Concessions – $5
Concessions: Pension Card
DVA Card
Healthcare Card
(NOT Senior's Card)
Fri 5th June Art Show open 7pm to 10pm.
Sat 6th June Art Show open 10am to 4pm.
Sun 7th June Art Show open 10am to 4pm.
Mon 8th June Art Show open until 4pm. Artist pickup from 5-6pm.
Ticket Categories:
Family (2 adults and school-age children) – $20
Adults – $10
Children (school-age) – $5
Pre-school children – Free
Concessions – $5
Concessions: Pension Card
DVA Card
Healthcare Card
(NOT Senior's Card)