The Mornington Peninsula has become the centre of Australia’s visual arts scene following the launch of the Sorrento Art Prize (SAP) — now the country’s richest art award for a single work, with a main prize of $125,000.
The exhibition, hosted by & Gallery Australia on Morce Avenue in Sorrento, opened on 28 June and will run until 31 August 2025, showcasing 60 finalists selected from around 1,200 entries nationwide.
Co-founded by sculptors Julie Collins and Derek John, the Sorrento Art Prize was designed to give artists genuine financial freedom, free from themes or lengthy proposals.
“As artists ourselves, we wanted to create something truly life-changing — without strings attached,” Ms Collins said.
The prize is entirely independently funded, receiving no council support, and aims both to support creatives and to boost tourism in the region.
The judging has been entrusted to highly regarded art historian and critic Sasha Grishin AM, FAHA. In addition to the main prize, a $5,000 People’s Choice Award will be decided by public vote during the exhibition.
Funding cuts cast shadow on local arts community
The launch of the SAP comes at a pivotal time for the local arts sector. The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has recently approved a budget that slashes arts funding by $480,000 in 2025–26, axing the Performing Arts Development Fund and Creative Fund — key programs that previously offered grants and support for local artists and events.
This decision has sparked backlash from the creative community, with artists and supporters staging protests and petitioning the council to reconsider, warning the cuts will have long-lasting impacts on the region’s cultural landscape.
Public exhibition details
The Sorrento Art Prize exhibition is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at & Gallery, 21 Morce Avenue, Sorrento. Entry costs $10 for adults, while children under 15 are free.
For more information, including details on how to vote in the People’s Choice, visit andgalleryaustralia.net.
What do you think — can major privately funded initiatives like the Sorrento Art Prize help fill the gap left by council cuts, or should local governments still be doing more to support our creative communities?
