The Lester Prize Youth Awards

The Lester Prize Youth Awards encourages the creative talents of young and aspiring artists. It is open to all High School students across Australia.

The Prize allows entrants to showcase their works and present their unique artistic perspectives; helps build their confidence to further their art practice; and allows them to share their stories with the wider community.

The Prize pool consists of:

  • Prizes for Students (Years 7-8, Years 9-10, Years 11-12) | Cash prizes and art supplies valued up to $4,000
    • Years 11-12 Winner: $750 + $500 Oxlades Art Supplies Pack
    • Years 11-12 Highly Commended: $350 + $250 Oxlades Art Supplies Pack
    • Years 9-10 Winner: $500 + $250 Oxlades Art Supplies Pack
    • Years 9-10 Highly Commended: $250 + $250 Oxlades Art Supplies Pack
    • Years 7-8 Winner: $250 + $250 Oxlades Art Supplies Pack
    • Years 7-8 Highly Commended: $150 + $250 Oxlades Art Supplies Pack
  • Prize for Schools (Years 7-12) | Professional art workshop by Lester Prize Adult Finalists valued at $1,000
  • Montauk Lighting Installers’ Prize (selected by the WA Museum Boola Bardip installation team) | $500 cash

Entries open 13 August 2025 and close on 5 March 2026.

The Lester Prize 2026 – Youth Awards Terms and Conditions 2026

The Lester Prize 2026 – Youth Awards Parent Guardian Consent Form 2026

The 2026 Call for Entries closes on Thursday 5 March 2026, 5pm AWST. 

The Youth Awards are kindly supported by Oxlades Art Supplies, Montauk Lighting Co., and the City of Perth.

ENTRIES CLOSED

2026 Winner — Years 11-12

Natali Jaros, Embrace, pencil on paper, 30 x 42 cm, Year 11, Presbyterian Ladies’ College, WA

Our Pre-Selection and Judging Process

  • The Pre-Selection Panel members and Judges for both the Adult Awards and Youth Awards change every year. They are a group of independent experts in their respective fields with no commercial association with The Lester Prize.
  • During the Pre-Selection process, the panel is never provided the name or location of the artist (just the artwork image, title, dimensions and medium on screen).
  • Unfortunately, due to the large volume of submissions, we are unable to provide individual feedback to entrants.
  • This is the same process that many art prizes both in Australia and overseas undertake, and one that the Prize has followed since its inception.
  • Our Pre-Selection and Judging processes are fully transparent and something we are very proud of as we work hard to ensure there is no bias, personal, political or financial influence in the selection of our Finalists and Winners.
  • We are unable to enter into any correspondence about the selection of the Finalists and Winners.
  • We stand by and support all our Finalists, and respect the decisions made by our independent Pre-Selection Panellists and Judges.
READ MORE ABOUT OUR YOUTH PRE-SELECTION PANEL AND JUDGES HERE
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