Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award 2026

28 November 2026 - 7 March 2027

Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award 2026

HOTA, Home of Arts is proud to announce the return of the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award in 2026. As Queensland’s richest acquisitive photographic prize, the $25,000 award and exhibition platforms artists from across the country working within the broad field of contemporary photography.

Previous winners include Polly Borland, Merilyn Fairskye, Shaun Gladwell, Polixeni Papapetrou, Darren Sylvester and Justine Varga.

We invite submissions reflecting the traditional and expanded medium, including photocollage, sculpture, projection, installation and cameraless photography.

This year’s finalists will be selected by a panel of esteemed judges including 2018 Award winner Tamara Dean, Director of UNSW Galleries José Da Silva and independent writer and curator Mikala Tai.

Entries to the award have now closed. All entrants will be notified of the outcome in September 2026.

Key Dates

Entries - Now Closed: Mon 6 Jul – Mon 17 Aug
Finalists announced: End of Sep
Exhibition: Sat 28 Nov 2026 – Sun 7 Mar 2027
Award Winner announced: Sat 28 Nov
People’s Choice announced: Feb 2027

Bio

Tamara Dean – Judge

Tamara Dean is a critically acclaimed Australian photo media artist. Dean’s practice extends across photography, installation and moving image. Over the past decade Dean has distilled the conceptual narrative within her work to make the simple and succinct point that humanity is neither separate nor superior to nature. Rather, acknowledging that we are a part of nature, as vulnerable to the same environmental pressures as every other living creature. Dean joins the judging panel as a former award winner (2018) with Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera).  Credit: Bec Lorrimer

José Da Silva – Judge

José Da Silva is a writer, curator, and Director of UNSW Galleries, Sydney, where he works across contemporary art and design. In 2024, he was curator of the 18th Adelaide Biennale of Australian Art, and from 2006–18, contributed widely to exhibitions and projects at the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, including the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art.

Mikala Tai – Judge

Mikala Tai is an independent writer, curator and cultural strategist based in Sydney. A specialist in contemporary Australian and Asian art, she has collaborated with local, national, and international organisations to strengthen cultural connections between Australia and Asia. She is the curator the 2027 TarraWarra Biennial. Credit: Anna Hay