The Soft Pastel Art Prize - 2025

The Soft Pastel Art Prize is an on-line annual competition which helps to promote soft pastel painting in Australia and New Zealand. The prize is exclusively for paintings predominantly completed with soft pastels and/or pastel pencils. For 2025, an acquisitive first prize of $5000 cash is offered together with three minor prizes to the value of $1000, $500 and $200.

All entries will be featured in an on-line exhibition.

The Soft Pastel Art Prize is sponsored, and run by, softpastels.com.au .


 

How do I Enter?

Entry into the 2025 competition will open on 01 April 2025. The competition entry dates will be confirmed in our monthly newsletter and on this website.


The Prizes

1st Prize, $5000 cash
2nd Prize, $1000 ($500 cash & $500 Soft Pastel Art materials.
3rd Prize, $500 ($250 cash & $250 Soft Pastel Art materials).
Staff Pick, $200 of Soft Pastel Art materials.


How Much Does it Cost to Enter?

$18.50 for each painting entered, paid at the time of entry.

The entry cost is non-refundable.

You may enter as many paintings as you like.


Are the paintings entered for sale?

You can choose whether your painting is for sale or not when it is displayed in the online exhibition. A 12.5% commission is applicable which is put towards the prize pool for future Soft Pastel Art prizes.


Competition Judges

The 2025 competition judges will be announced prior to the competition starting. The Staff Pick prize will be jointly decided by the staff of softpastels.com.au .


Key Dates

1. Competition entry opens on 01 April 2025 and closes at 6pm on 01 June 2025.
2. Shortlisted entries notified from 08 June 2025(may vary slightly).
3. Finalists notified from 15 June 2025 (may vary slightly).
4. On-line exhibition available from 15 June 2024 onwards (may vary slightly).












 

Eligibility

Entrants:
- must be over 18; and
- be a current citizen, or resident, of Australia or New Zealand.


Artwork Requirements

All entries must be a painting predominantly created using soft pastels and/or pastel pencils.

Artwork may be refused by softpastels.com.au if the origin, materials or subject is unclear or questionable.

The artwork:
- must have been painted exclusively by the entrant;
- must not have been painted more than 2 years ago;
- must not have previously won a prize in an exhibition or competition; and
- must be available for acquisition if it wins first prize.


Intellectual Property and Copyright

By entering the competition you are providing permission for softpastels.com.au to:
- display your painting as an entrant in the on-line exhibition and competition; and
- display your painting on our social media and newsletters, with the appropriate credit to you.

By entering the competition you are also confirming that you hold the copyright for the painting.

softpastels.com.au recognises that the intellectual property for your painting remains with you.