Visual Arts

This year, we continue to encourage our students to participate in a range of external courses, competitions and prizes to share and reflect the significant skills they are learning in Visual Arts. Over the past couple of years, we have had Imogen Zimmerle (Class of 2025)  selected to exhibit in the Young Archies (the Youth Section of the Archibald Prize), Aurelia Cortese (Class of 2025) selected to exhibit in the Waverley Landscape Prize, Jade Brennan (Class of 2024) selected for the Australian Time Life Photography Prize and over 15 students from Years 7 to 12 selected for the Woollahra Short Film and Photography Prize with Bianca Rosza (Class of 2024) winning the Film section in 2024. Below are some opportunities we encourage students to consider:

HSC Intensive Studio Practice at the National Art School

Applications are now open for the National Art School HSC Intensive Studio Practice Course for Year 11 students.

The NAS HSC Intensive Studio Practice Course is a significant opportunity for students who are deeply passionate about art and want to extend their skills or experience in the Art School setting.

To apply for the course, NAS needs students to: 

• Reflect high achievement in their Preliminary Visual Arts Course
• Talk a bit about why they want to participate in the HSC Intensive. 
• Submit a portfolio of four images. 
• Have an endorsement from their Visual Arts teacher. 

Students can apply to do workshops in:

Photography, Ceramics, Life Drawing, Time Based Forms (video, animation, sound, performance documentation), Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture

After having a chat with their art teacher: Apply here.

The dates for the 2026 HSC program are:

Cost is $475 which covers all materials and tuition.

Applications close Friday 2 April 2026.

We had two SCEGGS girls, Aida Tristram and Charlotte Woollard accepted last year so we encourage Year 11 to talk to their Visual Arts Teacher and get involved!

Waverley Youth Art Prize

The Waverley Youth Art Prize is open to young people aged between 9 and 18 who are living, studying and playing in Sydney’s East. Each year, artists are asked to respond to a theme, with broad interpretation of this theme encouraged. Entrants may utilise ideas relating to popular culture, science fiction, sustainability or something else. All mediums and interpretations are welcome.

There are multiple prize categories, and the work of finalists is exhibited at the Waverley Library Galleries.

In 2026, you are invited to create artworks inspired by the theme ‘Dreaming Future Worlds’. This theme encourages innovation and experimentation as you envisage surreal new realms that defy the rules of reality, devise fantastical inventions that change the way we live, or depict your dreams for the future.

Applications must be submitted via an online application form by 5pm on Friday 1 May 2026, with artworks delivered to Waverley Library between 9:30am–5pm on Friday 22 May 2026. View terms and conditions here.

This week’s banner is a preliminary still life work by Jemima Collins in Year 10.

Heidi Jackson
Head of Visual Arts