The People’s Choice award in the Fisher’s Ghost Art competition may not offer as much prizemoney as the open category but it will match it for popularity.
Its full title is the Joan Long and Vija Heinrichs People’s Choice Award and is part of the Fisher’s Ghost in honour of the contributions over many years of arts stalwarts Joan Long and Vija Heinrichs to Campbelltown Arts Centre and The Friends of Campbelltown Arts Centre Inc.
The $1000 in prizemoney is awarded to the work chosen by popular vote, and just like the Archibald Prize, Campbelltown’s version of the People’s Choice will garner much support.
Entries to all of the categories of the 2025 Fisher’s Ghost art award opened on June 2, and will close on July 28.
Finalists will be announced on August 20, while the exhibition will be open to the public from Saturday, September 27 to Friday, November 21.
The winners will be announced Friday, October 31 at a special event in the Campbelltown arts centre.
Now in its 63rd year, there is over $60,000 in prize money to be won across the categories.
In 2025, the celebrated Open Award, which is acquisitive to the Campbelltown City Council Art Collection, is valued at $50,000, one of the biggest individual art prizes in the country.
Over the years, the Open Award has been awarded to some of Australia’s most respected contemporary artists including Elisabeth Cummings, Khaled Sabsabi, Justene Williams, David Bromley, Marion Borgelt, Raquel Ormella, Tina Havelock Stevens, Kuba Dorabialski, Robert Fielding, Angela Tiatia and most recently, Katy B Plummer.
The Fisher’s Ghost Art Award coincides with Campbelltown’s annual Festival of Fisher’s Ghost.
Held over 10 days, the festival dates back to 1956 and celebrates Australia’s most famous ghost – Frederick Fisher, murdered by his neighbour over a property dispute.
“The Fisher’s Ghost art award is a highlight that Campbelltown residents look forward to every year. This prominent award features exceptionally talented artists and it’s always amazing to see the high calibre of artworks submitted,’’ says Campbelltown Mayor Darcy Lound.
Mouna Zaylah, the director of Campbelltown Arts Centre, also welcomed the return of the Fisher’s Ghost Art Award in 2025.
“It’s always inspiring to see how this award can open doors and contribute to the long-term growth of an artist’s practice,” Ms Zaylah said.
For local artists considering entering the Fisher’s Ghost art award, here are all the categories and prizemoney offered:
Open: $50,000. Open to all artists and mediums, the winning work is acquisitive to the Campbelltown City Council art collection.
Contemporary: $4,000, artworks entered in this category can be any style or medium of contemporary art.
Traditional: $3,000, artworks in this category must be created in a traditional style such as still life, realism, landscape, portraiture or using traditional techniques.
Primary school students: Three winners, each receiving a $250 voucher for redemption at Eckersley’s Art & Craft.
Secondary school students: Four winners will each a $250 voucher for redemption at Eckersley’s Art & Craft.
Macability award: $1,500 for the best work by an artist living with disability.
Macarthur award: $1,000 to the best work by an artist living within the Macarthur area (Campbelltown, Wollondilly or Camden).
Aboriginal art award: $1,000 to the best work by an Aboriginal artist living and working within NSW.
