The Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards encourages submissions from established, mid-career and emerging Indigenous artists from across the country.

Telstra NATSIAA awards a total of $190,000 in prize money each year. The overall Telstra Art Award of $100,000 cash (excl. GST) is awarded to the artwork considered by the judges to be the most outstanding artwork in the exhibition.

​The following Award Categories offer the Award recipient $15,000 (excl. GST) and are chosen by the judges:

1. Telstra General Painting Award
2. Telstra Bark Painting Award
3. Telstra Work on Paper Award
4. Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (sponsored by Telstra)
5. Telstra Multimedia Award
6. Telstra Emerging Artist Award

 In addition to the above award categories is the Telstra People’s Choice Award, which is a non-monetary Award, chosen by popular vote. The People’s Choice Award will be open for voting for the run of the exhibition.

Eligibility and conditions of entry

An Artist is eligible to participate in Telstra NATSIAA if the individual or collective complies with the following conditions:

• The Artist/s identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.
• The Artist/s can enter as an individual and/or as collective with other Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artists.
• Members of the Telstra NATSIAA Selection Panel and Judging Panel are not eligible to enter the Awards, nor are Telstra and MAGNT employees and their immediate relatives. 

Completing the entry form:

• An Artist can apply as an individual, completing their Entry Form themselves and representing themselves in all Telstra NATSIAA matters. Telstra NATSIAA requires the Artist to be the primary contact and MAGNT will liaise with them directly. If required, MAGNT will provide Translator support at its own expense. Artists can also provide a secondary contact but if the secondary contact is an organisation or entity they must be a current Dealer Member of the Indigenous Art Code.
• An Artist can apply through an Agent who will complete the Entry Form on their behalf. The Artist has consented and selected their Agent to be the contact person in Telstra NATSIAA matters such as correspondence with MAGNT and Telstra. Where this Agent is an organisation or entity, the Agent must be a current Dealer Member of the Indigenous Art Code.
• The Artist must agree to the Declaration on the online Entry Form. 

Number of entries:

• Each Artist is permitted to submit two Artworks total into Telstra NATSIAA: 
  • one Artwork created solely by an individual Artist 
  • one Artwork created in collaboration with other Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Artists as a collective.
• An Artist must choose which Category their Artwork is entered into. An Artist can enter their individual and collaborative Artworks in any Category they are eligible for.
• In the case of Collaborative Artworks, the nature of the collaboration needs to be specified in the Entry Form. A Collaborative Artwork is only eligible if it is the work of two or more Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artists and the work is their principal artistic vision and creative output. The details of each of the artists must be included in the online Entry Form including their name, place of residence, date of birth and language groups.
• Telstra NATSIAA accepts that some artists work with assistance or technical support to produce their work. This may be from an Indigenous or non-Indigenous Assistant. The Artist must confirm that any individual who has assisted an Artist, has done so under the Artist’s direction. Assistance must not alter or effect the Artist’s creative content or artistic intent. The Artist may provide details of any Assistant/s they wish to acknowledge or thank in the relevant part of the Entry Form - including a description of the type of assistance that was provided and confirming that any assistance was provided under the Artist’s direction.
• If an Artist chooses to list an Assistant/s, you must identify if the Assistant is to be acknowledged in the Telstra NATSIAA exhibition and catalogue caption. Telstra NATSIAA will not consider an Assistant as an Artist or as an active party within Telstra NATSIAA matters.
• If the Artist does not comply with any of the above eligibility requirements, the Artist will become ineligible. 

• Phone: (08) 8936 4208
• Email: fiona.bennie@magnt.net.au