The Kennedy Prize is an annual Australian art award of $25,000 for ‘beauty’

The prize, offered by the Kennedy Arts Foundation, is based and exhibited in Adelaide but open to Australian artists nationwide, and is awarded to works that embody, comment on or celebrate beauty.

The winning artist will receive $25,000, and their artwork will be acquired by the Kennedy Arts Foundation, and at its absolute discretion, auctioned at the next year’s Kennedy Prize exhibition. The work’s increased recognition, prestige and market value will thus contribute significantly to the prize’s funds, ensuring continued annual growth.

The Foundation’s Choice features as part of the exhibition and will showcase an exciting array of emerging and established Australian artistic talent.

A People’s Choice Award will also be awarded to the audience’s preferred entrant. Voting is conducted at the exhibition and only the finalists are eligble for the People’s Choice Award

The Kennedy Prize is dedicated to the memory of Bob Kennedy’s late parents, British émigrés who met in Australia after both departing their homelands, with promise and uncertainty, to forge a future in an unfamiliar country.

His father gave service in World War I and later died of leukemia, leaving behind a wife and seven children. Bob was raised solely by his mother, which instilled in him a profound appreciation for the opportunities yielded to him by his parents’ sacrifice and a commitment to enabling further opportunities for the wider Australian community.

The Kennedy Prize upholds and honours his parents’ legacy.

– On the theme of beauty

– On the story behind the prize

– On learning to paint with friend and the Glass Lady artist, Carmelita Clohesy