Winner

Mayor of Ipswich, Teresa Harding, presenting David Don, Cecile Knight and Julie McLaren with the award for HOTA Gallery, Home of the Arts. Photograph by Sarah Marshall, Jiriki Media. Courtesy of Museums & Galleries Queensland.

HOTA Gallery, Home of the Arts

Ken Done: No Rules

HOTA Gallery, Home of the Arts was named the winner in this category for its major survey exhibition Ken Done: No Rules, a vibrant celebration of the life, work and creative philosophy of one of Australia’s most recognisable artists.

Presented in collaboration with the Ken Done Gallery, the exhibition was inspired by Ken Done’s belief that creative freedom comes from breaking conventions. Bringing together more than 70 artworks spanning four decades, alongside archival material, immersive exhibition design and a newly commissioned animation, Ken Done: No Rules offered audiences a comprehensive insight into the artist’s enduring contribution to Australian visual culture.

With broad public appeal and significant educational impact, Ken Done: No Rules reinforced HOTA’s reputation for delivering ambitious, nationally significant exhibitions that connect audiences with celebrated Australian artists through innovative and accessible experiences.

Highly Commended

Mayor of Ipswich, Teresa Harding, presenting Leanne Kelly and Hannah Williamson with the Highly Commended presentation for City of Moreton Bay. Photograph by Sarah Marshall, Jiriki Media. Courtesy of Museums & Galleries Queensland.

City of Moreton Bay

Fresh Eyes 2025

City of Moreton Bay Galleries has been recognised as a Highly Commended recipient for Fresh Eyes 2025, an innovative initiative that reimagined the City’s biennial exhibition model by combining a major contemporary art exhibition with a seven-month professional development program for emerging and mid-career artists.

The project supported Moreton Bay artists Rachel Bywaters, Zartisha Davis, Amanda Ivy Gardner and Emily McGuire through a structured program of workshops, mentoring and curatorial guidance delivered by respected industry professionals, including Judy Watson, Kellie O’Dempsey and Joe Furlonger. Through this process, the artists developed ambitious new works exploring connections to place, landscape and local histories, creating a compelling reflection of one of Queensland’s fastest-growing regions.

The resulting exhibition provided a powerful cultural record of the changing Moreton Bay region, including important First Nations perspectives. Demonstrating strong sector leadership, Fresh Eyes 2025 strengthened artistic practice, expanded professional opportunities for participating artists and delivered lasting benefits for both local communities and audiences.

Mayor of Ipswich, Teresa Harding, presenting Peggy Kasabad Lane, Jono Perry, Laura Siebold and Elizabeth Bissell with the Highly Commended presentation for Queensland Museum. Photograph by Sarah Marshall, Jiriki Media. Courtesy of Museums & Galleries Queensland.

Queensland Museum

Croc! Lost Giants to Living Legends

Queensland Museum has been recognised as a Highly Commended recipient for Croc! Lost Giants to Living Legends, an ambitious exhibition that brings together science, culture, history and storytelling to explore one of Australia’s most iconic animals.

Developed through a major partnership between Queensland Museum, the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, the exhibition takes visitors on an immersive journey through 130 million years of crocodilian evolution. Featuring internationally significant specimens, interactive experiences and contemporary First Nations artworks, Croc! presents cultural and scientific perspectives side by side, offering audiences a deeper understanding of the enduring significance of crocodiles in Australia’s natural and cultural heritage.

Finalists

Mayor of Ipswich, Teresa Harding, presenting Claire Sourgnes with the Finalist presentation for Ipswich Art Gallery. Photograph by Sarah Marshall, Jiriki Media. Courtesy of Museums & Galleries Queensland.

Ipswich Art Gallery

Leonard Brown – Painting the Celestial

Ipswich Art Gallery has been recognised as a finalist for Painting the Celestial, the first major retrospective of Ipswich-based artist Leonard Brown, celebrating more than 60 years of artistic practice and creative achievement.

Curated by respected art historian, art critic and curator, Sasha Grishin AM, FAHA, the exhibition brought together 90 works spanning Brown’s acclaimed abstract paintings, figurative works and religious icons. Presented across three immersive gallery spaces, Painting the Celestial offered audiences the most comprehensive exploration of the artist’s career to date, revealing the profound relationship between spirituality and abstraction that has defined his artistic practice for more than six decades.

Drawing strong audiences and critical acclaim, the exhibition highlighted Leonard Brown’s significant contribution to Australian art while reinforcing Ipswich Art Gallery’s commitment to presenting ambitious exhibitions that celebrate important artists and preserve their legacy for future generations.

Mayor of Ipswich, Teresa Harding, presenting Raymond Milner, Tess Shingles and Jono Perry with the Finalist presentation for Queensland Museum. Photograph by Sarah Marshall, Jiriki Media. Courtesy of Museums & Galleries Queensland.

Queensland Museum

Make a Scene: Fashioning Queer Identity and Club Culture in the 90s

Queensland Museum has been named a finalist in this category for Make a Scene: Fashioning Queer Identity and Club Culture in the 90s, a vibrant, community-led exhibition exploring the role of fashion, music and nightlife in shaping LGBTQIA+ identity, belonging and activism in Queensland during the early 1990s.

Developed to mark 35 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Queensland, the exhibition brings together fashion, photography, oral histories and community collections to reveal an important and often overlooked chapter of the state’s social history. Through personal stories, archival material and creative expression, Make a Scene celebrates the resilience, creativity and self-determination of Queensland’s LGBTQIA+ communities.

Mayor of Ipswich, Teresa Harding, presenting Adam Jefford with the Finalist presentation for State Library of Queensland. Photograph by Sarah Marshall, Jiriki Media. Courtesy of Museums & Galleries Queensland.

State Library of Queensland

Driven: every car has a story

State Library of Queensland was recognised as a finalist in this category for Driven: every car has a story, an engaging exhibition that explored Queenslanders’ enduring relationship with the motor vehicle through a compelling combination of history, art, innovation and personal storytelling.

Bringing together rare archival material, contemporary artworks and iconic motoring objects, the exhibition examined the many ways cars have shaped identity, community and culture across Queensland. Through a rich and accessible narrative, Driven invited visitors to reflect on the social, economic and personal significance of motoring in everyday life.