Winner

Queensland Museum Kurilpa

Say Our Name: Australian South Sea Islanders

Say Our Name: Australian South Sea Islanders brought to light the rich history and vibrant culture of Australian South Sea Islanders, showcasing curatorial innovation, and fostering community engagement and cultural recognition.

Led by Imelda Miller, a curator with Australian South Sea Islander heritage, the exhibition presented contemporary artworks alongside archival documentation and artifacts, identified and digitised over a 10-year partnership with Queensland’s largest cultural collecting organisations. Through this research and storytelling, Queensland Museum has made important historical narratives accessible and relevant. Attracting over 100,000 visitors since opening on 23 August 2024, including 350 community members to the opening weekend, the exhibition has sparked pride and connection among the Australian South Sea Islander community. 

Highly Commended

HOTA Gallery, Home of the Arts

Writers Revealed: Cultural Leadership through Literary Excellence

Writers Revealed, displayed from April 12 to August 3, 2025, has set a new standard for cultural engagement on the Gold Coast. Showcasing rare treasures from the British Library and the National Portrait Gallery, London, the exhibition was a world-first, weaving together literature, visual art and biography, including manuscripts, personal items and portraits of literary giants, like Jane Austen and William Shakespeare.

An exemplar in international collaboration, Writers Revealed involved the complex coordination of international loans, logistics, programming, and public engagement, which has resulted in building internal organisational capability and sector leadership.

Finalists

Bundaberg Regional Galleries

Zapatos Rojos (Red Shoes)

Zapatos Rojos was a transformative project that raised awareness of domestic and family violence through public art and deep community engagement. Originating from Mexican artist Elina Chauvet, the project was brought to Bundaberg in 2024, culminating in a striking installation of 544 red-painted shoes, each symbolising a life affected by violence. 

The final installation, unveiled during the 16 Days of Activism at the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens, was viewed by over 55,000 people. Visitors were invited to reflect and contribute to a guest wall, which received 175 heartfelt messages. The project honoured the artist’s vision while tailoring it to local needs, with two pairs of shoes sent to Chauvet’s international collection and Allison Baden-Clay’s ballet slippers accessioned into the Gallery’s collection. 

Ipswich Art Gallery

Arriving Slowly: Exploring the Abstract

Curated in response to works by Mark Rothko and Agnes Martin, two greats of the American Abstract Art movement, on loan from the National Gallery of Australia through the Sharing the National Collection program, this ambitious project invited audiences to engage deeply with abstraction—a genre which can be seen as challenging.  

The exhibition featured 22 works, including commissions and pieces from the Gallery’s own collection, and was supported by innovative programming such as weekly Slow Looking tours and a sound performance. These initiatives encouraged visitors to slow down, reflect, and form personal connections with the displayed artworks. 

State Library of Queensland

Neon

This remarkable show not only attracted the Library’s highest recorded exhibition attendance of 26,842 visitors over its nine-week display (6 December 2024 to 9 February 2025), but also energised the Library’s public engagement strategy through its vibrant display of Queensland’s neon signage history.

Featuring items from the Library’s collection, the exhibition also showcased 26 original neon signs from Gold Coast Motels, Stephan’s iconic rainbow, to the 1947 Welcome Cross. It captivated audiences and transported them into the golden era of neon signage (1940s-2000s), evoking collective memories and offering new perspectives on Queensland’s history.