Entries are open for WA’s premier portrait prize – The Lester Prize. Now in its seventeenth year, this award is one of the nation’s most recognised and prestigious art prizes. With a prize pool totalling over $105,000, the competition is open to artists of all experience levels – emerging, midcareer and professional.

Last year The Lester Prize received over 730 entries from across Australia. With a 65% increase in visitors, nearly 16,000 people made their way to the Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) to see the exquisite work of the 2022 Finalists. 2022 also saw interstate Finalists able to attend the exhibition in person for the first time since COVID-19 border closures.

Entries for The Lester Prize 2023 close on Sunday 9 July 2023 5pm AWST.

The main winners will be announced on 15 September 2023 at AGWA.