Winner

Mayor of Ipswich, Teresa Harding, presenting Lizzie Riek with the award for Griffith University Art Museum. Photograph by Sarah Marshall, Jiriki Media. Courtesy of Museums & Galleries Queensland.

Griffith University Art Museum

Craig & Karl: Double Vision

Griffith University Art Museum (GUAM) was announced the winner in this category for its landmark city-wide exhibition Craig & Karl: Double Vision, a major celebration of internationally acclaimed Queensland College of Art and Design (QCAD) alumni Craig Redman and Karl Maier. A vibrant and playful exploration of one of Queensland’s most successful creative exports, Craig & Karl: Double Vision drew on the artists’ signature visual language of bold colour, graphic precision and joy to showcase their three-decade creative partnership. The exhibition highlighted the pair’s significant influence on international public art and design, while celebrating the enduring role of Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art and Design, where the artists first met almost 30 years ago.

Co-curated by Angela Goddard and Carrie McCarthy and presented as part of Griffith University’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the ambitious project brought together cultural, government and corporate partners to deliver a dynamic program of exhibitions, public artworks and learning opportunities across Brisbane. Through internships, mentoring and industry engagement, the project provided invaluable hands-on experience and professional development opportunities for students and emerging creatives.

Highly Commended

Mayor of Ipswich, Teresa Harding, presenting Michael Brennan with the Highly Commended presentation for Noosa Regional Gallery. Photograph by Sarah Marshall, Jiriki Media. Courtesy of Museums & Galleries Queensland.

Noosa Regional Gallery

Gaza Skate Team

Noosa Regional Gallery was recognised as a Highly Commended recipient for its outstanding exhibition Gaza Skate Team, a project that transformed a chance social media connection into an internationally significant cultural outcome.

Developed in collaboration with Rajab Al Reefi and artists living amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the exhibition presented powerful photography and video works documenting resilience, identity and hope through the lens of skateboarding. Despite significant communication and logistical challenges, the project was delivered to the highest professional standards through ethical international partnerships and strong curatorial leadership.

Presented alongside exhibitions by Shaun Gladwell and Warwick Gow, Gaza Skate Team generated meaningful artistic dialogue and deep community engagement, demonstrating how a regional gallery can deliver ambitious, globally relevant exhibitions with integrity, impact and relevance.

Mayor of Ipswich, Teresa Harding, presenting James Donaldson with the Highly Commended presentation for RD Milns Antiquities Museum. Photograph by Sarah Marshall, Jiriki Media. Courtesy of Museums & Galleries Queensland.

RD Milns Antiquities Museum

ΝΟΣΤΟΙ | Homecomings: Stories of the Ionian Island Diaspora in Queensland

RD Milns Antiquities Museum was recognised as a Highly Commended recipient for its outstanding exhibition ΝΟΣΤΟΙ | Homecomings: Stories of the Ionian Island Diaspora in Queensland, a remarkable community collaboration celebrating migration, memory and identity.

Developed over three years in partnership with the Kytherian Association of Queensland and the Ithakan Society of Queensland, the project combined a major exhibition with a Queensland-first oral history archive preserving the stories of the Ionian Islands diaspora. Featuring more than 80 objects, photographs, artefacts and community-contributed treasures alongside more than 12 hours of recorded testimonies, the exhibition documented and celebrated the rich histories, experiences and contributions of Queensland’s Greek Australian communities.

Finalist

Mayor of Ipswich, Teresa Harding, presenting Vanessa Van Ooyen with the Finalist presentation for QUT Art Museum. Photograph by Sarah Marshall, Jiriki Media. Courtesy of Museums & Galleries Queensland.

QUT Art Museum

Jemima Wyman: Deep Surface

QUT Art Museum has been named a finalist for its landmark exhibition Jemima Wyman: Deep Surface, the first comprehensive survey exhibition and accompanying major monograph dedicated to internationally acclaimed Australian artist and Palawa woman, Jemima Wyman.

Developed over several years in close collaboration with the artist, the exhibition brought together more than 70 artworks spanning three decades of practice and marked the reopening of QUT Art Museum following a 14-month closure. Accompanied by a substantial 208-page scholarly publication, the project made a significant contribution to Australian contemporary art scholarship while attracting strong audiences and widespread critical acclaim.

Celebrating artistic innovation, research excellence and sustained collaboration, Jemima Wyman: Deep Surface highlights the Museum’s leadership in delivering ambitious contemporary art projects and advancing knowledge of Australian art and cultural practice.