Competition overview

Purpose of the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize

The Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize was launched in 2002 and is named in honour of the South Australian Museum’s first curator, Frederick George Waterhouse. The prize is an opportunity for artists to investigate the world around them and present their perspectives on natural science. It encourages artists to make a statement about the scientific issues facing our planet and offers a valuable platform for them to contribute to the environmental debate. Over the years the competition has become a much-loved fixture on the arts calendar, allowing artists and audiences to explore natural science through a range of creative outlets.

Prizes

Two main award categories are available, an Open Prize with a $30,000 cash prize and an Emerging Artist Prize with a $10,000 cash prize.

Visitors to the South Australian Museum exhibition can also vote on The People’s Choice Prize, awarded to a finalist artist who has been judged by the people to have communicated the most significant scientific message within the spirit of the competition.

Who can enter?

Artists of any age, nationality and experience who create art relating to the natural world can enter the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize.

Entrants will self-identify for eligibility in the Open or Emerging categories and can submit up to three artworks in their chosen category. Emerging artists are those artists in the early years of their career. For the purposes of the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize, an emerging artist is defined as an artist who has either never been represented by a dealer or gallery, held a solo exhibition, or held their first solo exhibition less than five years ago.

Cost of entry

The entry fee is AUD$44 (incl GST) for each entry in the Open Prize, and AUD$30 (incl GST) per entry in the Waterhouse Emerging Artists’ Prize. Artists can submit up to three entries in their chosen category.

What work is eligible?

Any form of visual fine art that relates to the natural world is eligible for the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize, with the exception of photography. To be eligible, the work must have been produced no earlier than January 2025 and must relate to the natural world and the sciences associated with it, such as biology, geology, astronomy, chemistry and physics. Works relating to natural history are also eligible.

Works must not have any dimension greater than 2m in length and must fit through a standard door unassembled (2m x 0.9m). Works that require complex assembly prior to display will not be considered.

Entries by collaborative artists are accepted on the assumption all collaborators have given permission to enter the work.

Materials used to create works must be suitable for Museum conditions. No living or toxic materials can be used, any liquids must be safely contained.

Why no photography?

While many forms of digital art are eligible for the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize, works of art that are photographs are not eligible. We encourage artists to consider entering their photographic work to the South Australian Museum’s Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year competition. 

What are the judging criteria?

Judges will make their decision on the artistic merit of the work. Judges will also consider the relationship to natural science or natural history represented by the work.

What are the key dates?

Entries in the 2026 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize open on 11 August 2025 and close on 4 December 2025.  Shortlisting will take place in early 2026, and all shortlisted artists will be advised by mid-February 2026.

The exhibition will take place at the South Australian Museum from 11 April to 19 July 2026.

Do I have to allow my work to tour?

Works from the 2026 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize will not be touring.

How do I enter?

Entries to the 2026 Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize are available online only and are open between 11 August and 5:00pm ACDT 4 December 2025. Artists may enter up to three works. Artists will need to provide a one page CV outlining their artistic career.

Are works for sale and do you take commission?

All works selected for the exhibition must be available for sale through the South Australian Museum Foundation. A commission of 40% will apply to all works, if an artist is contracted to a gallery, the commission will be split 50-50 (20% to the Museum and 20% to the gallery) should the artwork be sold. The artist will be responsible for paying the gallery's share.

Do I need to provide an artist’s statement?

Only works selected for exhibition require an artist’s statement. Artists who are selected for exhibition will be asked to provide statement on the relationship between the work and the natural sciences. The statement will be no more than 100 words.

Upon entry artists are invited to provide a brief description of the work.

More information

For further information please contact waterhouseartprize@samuseum.sa.gov.au.

2026 Judges

Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize 2026 Rules

1. The Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize is awarded by the South Australian Museum Foundation Incorporated. All artists are encouraged to enter. Staff, board and committee members and volunteers of the South Australian Museum, the South Australian Museum Foundation (and their immediate families) and any other people involved with the administration or judging of the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize are not eligible to enter.

2. The subject for the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize is natural science, which for the purpose of the competition deals with our natural world and the sciences associated with it. For example: biology, geology, astronomy, chemistry and physics. It also includes natural history. Artworks submitted can be in any form of visual fine art, with the exception of photography. To be eligible, the work must have been produced no earlier than January 2025.
 
3. Entry will be available only via the online entry system at https://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/c/waterhouse. No other form of entry will be accepted. Entrants may upload one image file per entry only. Artists may include multiple views of the work in that file if they wish, provided an image of the entire work is clearly present. Artists will need to provide a one-page CV outlining their artistic career.
 
4. The competition period is Monday 11 August 2025 until 5pm Thursday 4 December 2025, Australian Central Daylight Time. 
 
5. Each artist may submit up to three entries. The entry fee is AU$44 (incl GST) for each entry in the Open Prize, and AU$30 (incl GST) per entry in the Emerging Artists’ Prize. Artists may enter in one category only. The Emerging Artists’ Prize is restricted to emerging artists. There are no restrictions on who can enter the Open Prize. All entrants are eligible for visitors to vote for them in the People’s Choice Prize. “Emerging Artist” means artists in the early years of their professional practice. For the purposes of the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize, an emerging artist is defined as an artist who has either never been represented by a dealer or gallery, had a solo exhibition, or had their first solo exhibition less than five years ago. Entries by collaborative artists are accepted on the assumption that all collaborators have given permission to enter the work.

6. Works must not have any dimension greater than 2m in length, and all works must fit through a standard door when packed for transport (2m x 0.9m). Floor-mounted works must not exceed a weight of 500kg. Wall and ceiling-mounted works must not exceed a weight of 30kg. Artworks must be supplied ready for display or hanging: flat D rings are preferred for wall-mounted works, and a single hanging point for ceiling-mounted works. No work can have one dimension greater than 2m in length. This will include any supports if supplied. The South Australian Museum Foundation may supply or arrange certain display furniture at its discretion. For screen-based works the South Australian Museum Foundation will supply a 48” wall mounted LED screen for single screen presentations or two 32” wall mounted LED screens for dual screen presentations. The South Australian Museum Foundation will supply headphones for presentation of any accompanying soundtrack. Artists must supply any equipment for digital presentations outside the parameters above, which meet the overall size allowances for all artworks. Any additional equipment must be fit for four months’ public display. Artworks must be self-sustaining for four months' display without intervention (for example no recharging, resetting). Safety will be assessed by the South Australian Museum Foundation prior to display. Any artworks with electrical components must be supplied by the artist with current test and tag to verify their safety. Works that require complex assembly prior to display will not be considered.

7. The judges will select finalists’ works for exhibition based on the image provided for each entry and each finalist shall be notified accordingly. Inclusion of finalists in the exhibition and the manner of exhibiting of each included work shall be at the sole discretion of the South Australian Museum Foundation.
 
8. Finalists’ works that are selected for exhibition must be sent to the South Australian Museum in person or by courier at the artist’s expense and must be free of all charges. The South Australian Museum Foundation will not pay any expenses. The selected works must arrive within the delivery window stipulated by the Museum. All works submitted must be as represented in the photograph provided by the artist. If the work differs markedly from the photograph submitted, or exceeds the size limits, the work will be ineligible for a prize and may not be included in the exhibition at the discretion of the South Australian Museum Foundation. Works that arrive damaged may be ineligible for a prize and may not be included in the exhibition at the discretion of the South Australian Museum Foundation. Should damage occur, the artist will be notified accordingly. Artists will remain responsible for collecting any work that is not included in the exhibition.

9. The South Australian Museum Foundation will insure all works while in its custody. This will be to the value of the sale price less commission stated by the entrant in the Entry Form. The South Australian Museum Foundation will not be responsible for uninsured loss or for loss or damage exceeding the insured amount. Artists are responsible for the safe transit of works to the South Australian Museum. The South Australian Museum Foundation will not be responsible for any loss or damage of works in transit. Artists are advised to arrange suitable insurance for transit. 

10. The exhibition will be open at the South Australian Museum from Saturday 11 April until Sunday 19 July 2026 from 10am to 5pm daily.
 
11. The artist agrees that all works exhibited shall be for sale. The sale price indicated in the Entry Form shall apply and shall remain fixed for the duration of the exhibition. Artworks entered as a series of panels or objects may be sold individually or as an entire work, as determined by the artist.

A commission of 40% will apply to all works sold, if an artist is contracted to a gallery, the commission will be split 50-50 (20% to the Museum and 20% to the gallery) should the artwork be sold. The artist will be responsible for paying the gallery's share.

 
12. All prizes are non-acquisitive.
 
13. The entries will be judged on their artistic merit. Judges will also consider the artwork’s success in linking art and natural science. The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. No feedback will be given on works that are not selected for display.
 
14. The prize winners, except the winner of the People’s Choice Prize, will be announced in April 2026. The date of the People’s Choice Prize announcement will be announced in 2026.

15. All works entered must be available for the duration of the exhibition.

16. By entering, the artist consents to images of their works being reproduced (including as a detail), and their biographical information and/or photograph being used by the South Australian Museum and/or the South Australian Museum Foundation, and their agents, without additional compensation.
 
17. At the conclusion of the exhibition, all unsold works must be collected from the South Australian Museum, Adelaide within the collection window stipulated by the Museum. If any works are to be returned by courier, this must be arranged by the artist or purchaser (as applicable) at their expense and must happen during this time frame.
 
18. The artist warrants that their entry and any other works and materials submitted are original, are the property of the artist and do not infringe any third-party rights. The artist shall, at any time requested by the South Australian Museum, execute such documents and do such acts as may be reasonably required to perfect the rights granted to them by these Conditions. By entering, the artist further agrees to indemnify and hold the South Australian Museum, the South Australian Museum Foundation and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, parents, subsidiaries, successors, and assigns, harmless from any liability or damages of any kind, including legal fees and costs, resulting from any claim of infringement or other proprietary right of any person or entity.
 
19. Any works not collected within the time specified shall be dealt with in accordance with the Unclaimed Goods Act 1987 (SA).
 
20. The South Australian Museum Foundation is the sole owner of the information collected from the entry forms and any other information submitted, and will not sell, share, or rent this information to others except for the sole purpose of advertising or promoting the Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize unless express permission is given by the entrant.