2024 NAS Awards Recipients

2024 NAS Awards Recipients

On Tuesday 10 December, the National Art School celebrated the achievements and success of our students through awarding of prizes and scholarships. We would like to congratulate the award recipients for their hard work and thank our lecturers and technicians for their outstanding dedication and commitment to each and every student.

All of the prizes and scholarships awarded have been generously provided by our benefactors and sponsors, and we also thank you for your support.

Major Awards

Clitheroe Foundation Scholarship
($20,000) 
Sarah R. Serfati
Lift Off Award ($20,000) Benjamin Akuila
Standish and Co. Scholarship ($5,000 and $5,000 voucher) Chile Bainbridge
Fire Up Award ($5,000)  Caleb Slater
East Sydney Doctors Scholarship (2 x $2,500)  Elena Larkin and Ellen McCalmont
Fire Up Award Highly Commended ($1,000) Megan McKenzie
National Art School Aboriginal Art Centre Internship (10-week internship)  Cassi Elliott and Freyja Fristad
Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre Nancy Fairfax (AIR) Award
(Residency/Exhibition) 
Oliver Abbott

Art History and Theory 

Brandon Trakman Memorial Prize for Art History and Theory Highly Commended ($500)  Genevieve Jobes
Brandon Trakman Memorial Prize for Art History and Theory ($2,000)  Sarah R. Serfati

Ceramics

Australian Ceramics Association Prize
(Membership) 
Chrystie Longworth and Alexandra Darling
Claypool Award
(Membership)
Sylvia Zi
Parkers Sydney Fine Art Ceramic Award
($500 voucher) 
Nikita Maricic
Kil.n.It Award
(2 x $500 voucher) 
Benjamin Akuila and Harriet Clark
Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios Ceramics Award
(Studio)
Marina Kawabe
Sabbia Gallery Exhibition Prize
(Exhibition) 
Megan McKenzie and Chrystie Longworth
Matilda Kubany-Deane Ceramics Prize 
($1,000) 
Megan McKenzie
N.E. Pethebridge Award BFA 
($1,000) 
Sandra Van Tilburg
N.E. Pethebridge Award MFA
(2 x $1,500) 
Benjamin Akuila and Chrystie Longworth

Drawing

Parkers Sydney Fine Art Drawing Award
($500 voucher) 
Samuel Chan
John Olsen Family Prize for Drawing Highly Commended ($500)
Isabella Bendeich
John Olsen Family Prize for Drawing ($2,000)  Alexia Fisher
The Bonner and Tonkin Drawing Prize 
($1,000) 
Ellen McCalmont
Anne Pata Memorial Drawing Award
($2,000) 
Marko Karanfilovski
Prix Yves Hernot Drawing Award
($1,000)
Artemesia Cornett
Bettina McMahon Drawing Prize ($3,000) William Potanin
The Kaye Shumack Sunflower Drawing Prize
($3,000)
Quan Zhu Ma

Painting

Parkers Sydney Fine Art Studio Art Award
($500 voucher) 
Heidi Machamer
John McCaughey Prize
($850) 
Olivia Campton-Smith
The Derivan Acrylics Award for Excellence in Painting
($1,000 voucher) 
Lily Mortensen
Troy Quinliven Exhibition Award Highly Commended
($1,000 voucher) 
Luka Orlandini
Troy Quinliven Exhibition Award
($2,000 voucher and exhibition) 
Conrad Moss
Bettina McMahon Painting Prize
($3,000) 
Samantha Klein

Photomedia

Kayell Australia Photography Award
($300 voucher) 
Gabriella Boyd
Prix Yves Hernot Photography Award
($2,000) 
James Little
Joel Corrigan Memorial Photography Award
($2,000) 
Alexandra Wong

Printmaking

Ellen Lee O’Shaughnessy Printmaking Award
(2 x $250) 
William Potanin and Josie Kearney
Artscene Printmaking Prize
(2 x $125 voucher) 
Jodie Boffa-Mcgrath and Eleanor Harris
Parkers Sydney Fine Art Printmaking Award
($500 voucher) 
Sarah Wadey
Gallery Lane Cove and Creative Studios Printmaking Award (Studio)  Lucy Bird
Megalo Studio and Gallery Residency Award
(Residency)
Jessica Tapp
Bettina McMahon Printmaking Prize (2 x $1,500) Ziggy Grana and Edwina Barton

Sculpture

Parker’s Sydney Fine Art Sculpture Award
($500 voucher) 
Maram Hassan Al-Zaidi
Mega Exhibition Award (Exhibition)  Amelia Rose and Samuel Chan
Minvera Sculpture Prize ($500)  Amelia Rose
Dr John Vallance Prize for Sculpture
(5 x $200) 
Joel Sanders-Agius
River Wright
Milla Watts
Sarah Parker
Rose Blunt
Sculpture by the Sea Prize
(2 x $500) 
Olivia Lindgaard and Ruby Quoyle

Open Awards

NAVA Ignition Prize for Excellence in Professional Practice
(Membership) 
Gitte Backhausen
Studio W Exhibition Prize
(Exhibition) 
Marie Hiot
Schmick Contemporary Exhibition Prize
(Exhibition) 
Ruby McVicar and Madison Scott
The Foundations Squatters Residency
(Residency) 
Quan Zhu Ma
Harvey Galleries National Art School Exhibition Prize
(Exhibition)
Mark Friezer
James Gardiner
Chrystie Longworth
Matthew Lorrimer
Brooke Marchel
Harry Merriman
Adelash Parsons
Jed Payten
Bronwyn Vaughan
Sophie Victoria
Eleanor Wickens
Shirley Randell Student Award
($1,000) 
Grace Buckley
NAS Library Artists’ Book Annual Award Grad/Postgrad ($500 and membership Grad, $750 and membership Postgrad) Imogen Rowe (Grad) and Stephanie Houghton (Postgrad)
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Final weeks to visit The Neighbour at the Gate, closing Saturday 18 October. 

Across various mediums and perspectives, The Neighbour at the Gate charts the entangled legacies of exclusion and resilience, drawing vital parallels between the past and present, memory and nationhood.

Learn more about the exhibition and plan your visit at the link in bio. 

Please note: the gallery is closed for Labour Day Monday 6 October
Enjoy 20% off a Summer School Short Course with code FLASHSALE20

Don’t miss this exclusive 20% off flash sale on the National Art School Summer School Short Courses (link in bio). Flash Sale starts right now and ends midnight Monday 6 October.*

*Offer begins midday Friday 3 October and ends midnight Monday 6 October. Terms and conditions apply.
We are pleased to share the exciting news that we are introducing a new BFA (Hons) degree at the National Art School in 2026.

The Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) is an intensive one-year program designed for graduates of the BFA who are ready to deepen their studio practice and expand their academic and professional capabilities. This course is ideal for emerging artists who want to refine their practice, build industry connections, and prepare for postgraduate study or professional opportunities in the creative sector.

New scholarships will be available to students entering the BFA (Hons), with further details to be shared later this year. For more information and key dates, visit futurestudents.nas.edu.au (link in bio).
Join us for free 18+ concert 'Afterglow' – The Neighbour at the Gate exhibition closing party.

Headlined by Miss Kaninna, the event features performances by HYLANDER, Rocky Stallone, BRINA, Kuya Hennessy, and DJ Court Jester. RSVP today as tickets are going fast!

Afterglow 
Thursday 16 October 
Doors: 4.30pm
Concert starts: 7.00pm
Cell Block Theatre, National Art School

Please note: if the Cell Block reaches capacity, you’re welcome to enjoy the concert from the courtyard until space opens up inside. Food trucks and pop up bar.

FREE ADMISSION, RSVP is essential due to limited capacity (link in bio)
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