To make the submission process as smooth as possible, please follow the below guidelines when submitting your work:

• Photography – upload your photo/s as jpeg, or png files. Please ensure photos are at least 1MB and are free from any author watermarks.
• Written word – upload your short story (1,000 words max) or poems in a word document or pdf format.
• Mixed media art & installations – physical artworks can be dropped off at Gallery 31 (CQUniversity Mackay City Campus) on Monday 22 July 2024 between 10am and 3pm. To make alternative arrangements please call us at on 0418 888 969 or email info@healthyriverstoreef.org.au. Please submit an entry form, so we know to expect your entry!
• Film – upload your film project in MP4 or MOV format. Short clips up to 5 minutes are preferred.

Email info@healthyriverstoreef.org.au or call 0418 888 969 with any questions.

Budding Artists (0 – 12 years)

• Two prizes up for grabs!
• Artspace Mackay Kids Arts Pack: An exciting collection of exhibition-quality art materials for the young artist to develop their creative skills at home! (valued at $150)
• $150 Let the Children Play Toyshop voucher

Keen Teens (13 – 17 years)

• $500 JB HiFi voucher

Adults (18 years and over)

• $500 TicketTek voucher

Open category (all ages)

• Tongarra Day Sailing Tour Family pass (2 adults, 2 children) to visit the beautiful Whitsunday Islands thanks to our exhibition Partner, Red Cat Adventures! Valued at $599.

Artist at work

• A $1,000 Artist Development Bursary to assist current or developing artists pursue a career in the creative arts.

• All works must be your own creative property and have a link to waterways in the Mackay, Whitsunday or Isaac region.
• The Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership (the Partnership) will arrange the printing and display of works submitted via the online submission process (photographs, film, written word). Artists are welcome to take these pieces home at the close of the exhibition.
• Physical works (paintings, drawings, mixed media pieces, installations) that cannot be submitted online will need to be dropped off either at the exhibition space on Monday 22 July (between 10am and 3pm) or at the Reef Catchments Mackay Office at a pre-arranged appointment time. Contact the Partnership’s Communications Officer on 0418 888 969 to arrange an appointment.
• The exhibition is not designed to facilitate the sale of any artwork submitted. However, artists can request to have their contact details displayed under their artworks, along with website and social media information, if they wish.
• The Partnership will take reasonable care in handling and displaying artworks and will not be held responsible for any damage to or loss of artwork.
• The Partnership reserves the right to determine the layout, arrangement, and positioning of artworks within the exhibition space.
• The Partnership reserves the right to exclude submissions from being exhibited that are deemed offensive, inappropriate or not aligning with the exhibition values.
• The Partnership may not be able to display all artworks if the quantity of submissions is beyond capacity of the exhibition space – all entrants accept this possibility. If artworks are not exhibited, the entrant will still be in the running for competition prizes.
• Submissions not accompanied by contact information (full name, and phone number or email) will not be accepted.
• Artworks will be displayed with your artwork title, full name and suburb, unless otherwise requested.
• Contact information (name, phone number and email) are collected as part of the submission process so that we may contact you in regards to your submission and prize information. Any information collected will be stored securely in accordance with our host’s Privacy Policy.
• Unless otherwise negotiated, any photographs or video footage submitted to the exhibition may be used by the Partnership in future promotional materials, with a credit to the artist. This may include, but is not limited to, press releases, print and digital advertising, social media, website content, catalogues, and other promotional materials.
• Written works submitted to this exhibition may be published by the Partnership on their website or in future publications, with a credit to the original author.
• By submitting any type of artwork to this exhibition, the artist grants the Partnership permission to use images of their artwork for marketing, promotional, and general purposes relating to the promotion of the Partnership.
• The winners of each category will be judged by an independent panel selected by the Partnership. All decisions made by the panel are final.