Ramsay Art Prize 2027 takes place at the Art Gallery of South Australia in Adelaide from 7 May to 15 August 2027.

The biennial prize is one of Australia’s most significant opportunities for contemporary artists under the age of 40.

Artists can work in any medium, including painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, installation, sound, digital art, net art and live practice.

The winning artist receives AUD 100,000, while the winning artwork enters the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of South Australia.

A separate AUD 15,000 People’s Choice Prize allows visitors to vote for their favourite finalist.

The 2027 judging panel brings together artist Brook Andrew, museum director and curator Rebecca Coates, and AGSA Director Jason Smith.

For ArtExpoWorld readers, the Ramsay Art Prize provides an opportunity to see new work by artists at an important stage of their careers before many of them become familiar names within larger institutional and international exhibitions.

The Ramsay Art Prize is centered around a major finalist exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia.

Artists submit new or recent works for consideration by a professional judging panel.

There are no restrictions on artistic medium or subject.

This openness is important because it allows the finalist exhibition to reflect the diversity of contemporary artistic practice rather than privileging one traditional discipline.

A finalist might present a painting, sculpture, photographic work, digital installation, sound work, or live artistic project.

The 2027 finalists will be selected by Brook Andrew, Rebecca Coates, and Jason Smith.

The winner will be announced at an invitation-only event on Thursday, 6 May 2027, immediately before the exhibition opens to the wider public.

The winning artwork becomes part of AGSA’s collection.

Visitors can also participate through the People’s Choice Prize.

The final artist list and detailed exhibition programme will be announced after the judging process.

Ramsay Art Prize 2027 Event Overview

Ramsay Art Prize 2027 – Australia’s $100,000 Contemporary Art Prize

The Ramsay Art Prize is acquisitive. The artist receives AUD 100,000 and the winning artwork enters the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of South Australia. This means each edition permanently changes the museum’s contemporary Australian collection.

Dates:

7 May 2027 - 15 August 2027

Location:

Art Gallery of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia

Mission:

The mission of the Ramsay Art Prize is to support Australian contemporary artists at a pivotal stage in their careers. The prize is specifically restricted to artists under 40. This age focus is intended to create meaningful financial and institutional support at a moment when artists may already have developed a serious practice but still require resources to expand it. The AUD 100,000 award can provide significant freedom for future research, production and experimentation. The acquisitive structure is equally important. The winning artwork does not disappear into a private collection. It becomes part of the Art Gallery of South Australia’s public collection and contributes to the museum’s record of contemporary Australian art. The People’s Choice Prize adds another dimension by giving visitors a direct role in recognising artistic achievement.

Organizer:

Ramsay Art Prize 2027 is organised by the Art Gallery of South Australia. The prize is supported in perpetuity by the James & Diana Ramsay Foundation. The 2027 judging panel consists of Australian artist Brook Andrew, museum director, curator, writer and academic Rebecca Coates, and AGSA Director Jason Smith. The AUD 15,000 People’s Choice Prize is supported separately. AGSA manages the application process, finalist exhibition, judging and acquisition of the winning artwork.

Why attend to Ramsay Art Prize 2027?

Ramsay Art Prize 2027 is worth visiting because it offers a focused view of contemporary Australian art at a time of experimentation and career growth.

For collectors, the finalists reveal artists whose institutional profiles are still developing.

For curators and researchers, the exhibition provides insight into emerging trends across various artistic media.

For students and younger artists, the diversity of the finalists' work shows that contemporary practice does not need to fit into a single technical category.

For general visitors, the People’s Choice Prize offers a simple way to engage actively with the exhibition.

Rather than asking which work is officially considered the best, visitors can decide which artistic idea or experience matters most to them.

For cultural travelers, AGSA’s North Terrace location also makes the exhibition easy to combine with Adelaide’s other museums and cultural institutions.

Ticket Information

General admission costs

The finalist exhibition runs from 7 May to 15 August 2027.

AGSA has not yet published separate admission prices for the 2027 Ramsay Art Prize exhibition.

General admission to the Art Gallery of South Australia is free, although some major exhibitions require paid tickets.

Visitors should check final exhibition access conditions before travelling.

AGSA is normally open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, except Christmas Day.

The gallery also offers extended hours for selected programmes and events.

Getting There:

The Art Gallery of South Australia is located on North Terrace in central Adelaide.

The gallery is situated between the South Australian Museum and the University of Adelaide within the city’s main cultural precinct.

Visitors staying in Adelaide CBD can usually reach the gallery on foot.

North Terrace is served by tram and bus services.

Adelaide Railway Station is also within walking distance.

Adelaide Airport is the main domestic and international gateway.

Taxi, rideshare, and public transport services connect the airport with central Adelaide.

Paid parking is available at several facilities around North Terrace and the city centre.

Accommodation

Adelaide CBD is the most convenient area for visitors attending the Ramsay Art Prize.

Hotels around North Terrace provide particularly easy access to AGSA and neighbouring institutions.

The East End is suitable for visitors who want restaurants, bars, and cultural venues within walking distance.

North Adelaide offers a quieter atmosphere while remaining close to the central city.

Visitors planning a longer South Australian trip can combine the exhibition with the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, or coastal destinations.

For an art-focused weekend, central accommodation is generally the simplest option.

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History & Context of a Ramsay Art Prize 2027

The Ramsay Art Prize is presented by the Art Gallery of South Australia and supported in perpetuity by the James & Diana Ramsay Foundation.

The prize was established to encourage ambitious contemporary art by younger Australian artists.

Its structure deliberately avoids restrictions on medium.

This reflects the reality of contemporary practice, where artists frequently work across painting, sculpture, performance, digital media, sound, and installation.

The Art Gallery of South Australia provides an important context for the prize.

Founded in 1881, AGSA holds one of Australia’s major public collections, encompassing Australian, First Nations, European, Asian, and contemporary art.

The Ramsay Art Prize allows that historical collection to continue growing through work produced in the present.

Because the winning piece enters the permanent collection, each edition also leaves behind an institutional record of the artistic ideas and materials shaping its generation.

Tips for Visitors of Ramsay Art Prize 2027

Allow at least 90 minutes for the finalist exhibition.

Do one complete walk-through of the exhibition before deciding which work deserves your People’s Choice vote.

Read the artist statements, but first spend a moment with each work without explanation.

Pay attention to different media.

A sound installation or digital project may require significantly more time than a painting.

Do not assume the largest or most visually dramatic work will necessarily win.

The judges evaluate contemporary artistic practice rather than simple spectacle.

Check the final programme for artist talks and curator events.

These can provide useful context about how individual works were developed.

Tips from the ArtExpoWorld

Do not treat the Ramsay Art Prize only as a competition.

The finalists are more interesting than the ranking.

Walk through the exhibition before learning which work won the AUD 100,000 prize if possible.

It gives you a chance to make your own judgment before the award begins shaping how you look.

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Editor’s Note

Ramsay Art Prize 2027 matters because serious support can change an artist’s career.

For ArtExpoWorld, the most interesting feature is not simply the size of the award, but the combination of money, museum recognition, and permanent acquisition.

The under-40 requirement also creates a useful snapshot of a generation that is still developing rather than looking backward at established reputations.

The exhibition is therefore both a competition and a forecast.

Some of the artists presented in Adelaide in 2027 may help define Australian contemporary art over the following decade.

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