Harden Art Prize

06/05/2026

People’s Choice Award highlights rural voice at Harden Art Prize

You’ve heard that Kathy Ellem won the people’s choice award at the Harden Art Prize exhibition - now let’s discover where the inspiration behind the winning painting came from.

Congratulations Kathy 🖼️

Read the article here

https://www.youngwitness.com.au/news/peoples-choice-award-highlights-rural-voice-at-harden-art-prize-k9fmeush

27/04/2026

🎨 People’s Choice Award – Harden Art Prize 2026

Congratulations to Kathy Ellem, winner of the People’s Choice Award with her oil on stretched canvas painting, Strength Overarching.

Voted by visitors across the exhibition, this award reflects the piece that truly connected with people — Strength Overarching clearly left a lasting impression.

This photo captures the work displayed behind the judges’ desk during the exhibition — a quiet but powerful presence throughout the exhibition.

If you missed this year’s exhibition, keep an eye out for what’s to come in 2027!

23/04/2026

Have you visited the finalist exhibition? Open each day until 3pm April 27

A painting shaped by place — and what the Harden Art Prize is building for our community.

18/04/2026

What drives the Harden Art Prize - and the faces behind the scenes.

Hear from Chairman Geoff Orchison as part of the opening celebrations.

18/04/2026

Learn more about Harden Art Prize judge Chris Kenyon introduced by committee member, Leah Miller Lock

There were two judges - acclaimed NSW landscape artist Chris Kenyon and Yvette Dal Pozzo, Director of Goulburn Regional Art Gallery. Mr Kenyon attended the opening ceremony to announce the winner.

18/04/2026

Painting by artist Dwayne Jessell — Infinite Sky, Enduring Land – Purnululu beneath the Stars — was Highly Commended at the 2026 Harden Art Prize.

18/04/2026

Harden Art Prize Winner Announced

Artist Wayne Elliott has taken out the top honour at the Harden Art Prize with his work Warracknabeal.

The $15,000 acquisitive prize winner was announced as part of the exhibition today, by acclaimed NSW landscape artist Chris Kenyon.

18/04/2026

It’s almost time

14/04/2026

🎨 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 – 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱

The countdown has started!

The Harden Art Prize 2026 Exhibition officially opens this Saturday, with artists and art lovers gathering in Harden-Murrumburrah to celebrate this year’s finalists—excitedly waiting to find out who takes home the major prize.

Be there as the winner is announced and the exhibition is officially opened—this is the moment the whole competition builds toward.

WINNER ANNOUNCED
AT OPENING CEREMONY

3pm Saturday April 18

Old Courthouse, Albury Street, Harden Murrumburrah

ENTRY FREE

The exhibition then continues, giving you plenty of time to experience the artwork up close:

Exhibition Dates & Times

April 19, 2026 – Sunday – 10am to 4pm
April 20 to April 24, Monday – Friday - 10am – 3pm
April 25, 2026 – Saturday – 10am to 5pm
April 26, 2026 – Sunday – 10am to 4pm
April 27, 2026 – Monday – Exhibition Final Day - 10am – 3pm

Whether you’re coming for the opening or planning a quieter visit, this is a chance to see incredible artwork from across Australia right here in Harden Murrumburrah.

👉 Make a day of it—wander through the exhibition, explore the town, and support our local community while you’re here.

Harden Art Prize brought to you by Community Bank Harden-Murrumburrah (Bendigo Bank)

23/03/2026

✨ 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 ✨

We’re delighted to announce the 34 finalists for the 2026 Harden Art Prize.

This year’s finalist works reflect a wonderful mix of talent, perspective and artistic response to landscape.

Congratulations to the following selected artists:

Alex Lynn — Late Afternoon at Primrose Valley
Alli Geers — Holding Pattern
Bec Noonan — Autumn afternoon Mulwaree Ponds
Bonnie Porter Greene — Macro Lichen Rock
Camille Manley — Dipped our toes in
David McLeod — South Gundagai Country
Donovan Christie — Raised By Mum
Dwayne Jessell — Infinite Sky, Enduring Land - Purnululu beneath the Stars
Elaine Green — Morning Mist Lifting
Elizabeth Krahling — Summer Morning, Harden
Georgie Kite — Umbra, Gulaga, New Moon
Heidi Maunder — Lost World
Isabel Harnden — Glimpse Through Box Head
Jemma Cakebread — Waiting for Autumn
Joel Tonks — No man steps in the same creek twice
Kate O'Connor — Ghost Horse Sunset Fly West Neon Ember track
Kathy Ellem — Strength Overarching
Leoni Watson — Clouds on the move
Liz Wickramasinghe — Curious Mountain
Lizzy Simunovic — Cool Shadows
Luanne Mitchelmore — Wet Week Jervis Bay
Lyn Bartolo — Weathered
Margie Kristofich — Banksia, 2025
Michelle van Pelt — Behind the Mountain
Nat Ward — Tasmania High Plains
Nicola Mason — Napoleon Reef III
Ray Monde — Collecting kindling for the home fires
Sonia Rachael Cox — Ngurambang (Home, Country)
Suellen Tomkins — The Breakaways
Todd Simpson — Mossfall
Troy Drill — Dreaming carved in stone and Healing waters- Purnululu
Troy Wade — Call us when you get home.
Wayne Elliott — "Warracknabeal"
Wendy Marinich — Primary Estate: River Views

We look forward to showcasing these outstanding works during the exhibition from 18–27 April 2026.

𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱
Saturday 18 April, 3pm
Old Courthouse, Albury Street,
Harden–Murrumburrah NSW 2594

Thank you to our sponsor Community Bank Harden-Murrumburrah Bendigo Bank

10/03/2026

The arts truly are alive and well in the Hilltops!

Hilltops Off The Beaten Track Art & Cultural Trail running over 2 weeks and 3 huge weekends kicks off this Friday night with a grand opening night at Southern Cross Cinema in Young!

Plenty to see and do on the art trail in Harden!

Visit hobtrack.hilltopsarts.org/harden-events

🎬 Opening Night | Lights, Camera, Hilltops | Youth in Action Arts Night Buy Tickets Online A Reload Productions Documentary - Tomorrow's Future Echoes This screening forms a special feature within the official Opening Night of the Hilltops Off The Beaten Track Arts & Cultural Trail — celebra...