Australian Museums and Galleries Association Inc - Awards

ELIGIBILITY

The AMaGAs welcome entries from a diverse range of non-commercial collecting institutions across Australia, including but not limited to museums, galleries, libraries, archives, and historical societies. The Digital Excellence and Excellence in Print categories are also open to non-commercial collecting institutions in New Zealand.

Entries must be submitted by an organisation, association, or non-profit company; however, individual contributors are permitted to submit entries on behalf of the organisations with whom they have collaborated. These entries must be submitted under the name of the respective cultural organisation and with their written permission. This collaborative spirit ensures that the AMaGAs accurately recognise and honour the achievements and contributions of the cultural institutions and the creative professionals who collaborate with them.

Further eligibility clarification:

Commercial galleries, auction houses and publishing interests are not eligible.
Only members of AMaGA may participate.
Entries for design-based categories are defined as printed or electronically designed graphic material intended for public distribution.
Projects must have been produced between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025. This two-year window reflects that the awards were not held in 2025.

Specific to the First Nations Project Award category, the expectations for any nominated project include:

First Nations-led development and delivery;
Implementation of standards and frameworks (e.g. First Peoples: A Roadmap, Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property) to ensure Indigenous rights are recognised and protected; and
Encourages First Nations visitors, and/or is delivered in First Nations communities.

AWARD CATEGORIES

PROJECTS | Museum and Gallery Operations

CATEGORY	DEFINITION	EXAMPLE PROJECTS
Collections Care Award	Recognises institutions, policies and projects that focus on conservation, preservation and access demonstrating a level of innovation and benefit to cultural heritage.	Policies development and implementation; conservation; repatriation projects; increasing access, digitisation; storage solutions.
Community Connection Award	Recognises projects that excel in community engagement and programming, which interpret and communicate the institution’s collection and stories in innovative ways.	Community co-curated project, mobile outreach; multilingual, inclusive interpretation project; storytelling workshop.
Exhibiting Excellence Award	Recognises institutions that have demonstrated excellence in museum and gallery exhibition initiatives, including research, planning/development, and execution phases.	Permanent, temporary, or travelling exhibition; community research project; curatorial or collections research; fieldwork.
First Nations Project Award	Recognises outstanding projects that focus on or significantly involve First Nations perspectives, knowledge and communities. These projects are developed for First Nations communities and/or by First Nations people.	Gallery development; exhibition development; interpretive programming; knowledge-sharing programs; digital learning projects; workshops.
Social Impact Award	Recognises projects that have made tangible and positive impacts in response to key societal issues, with outcomes including community well-being, fostering inclusivity and diversity, education, and social awareness.	Environmental sustainability project; health and well-being project; exhibition; public program.

PROJECTS | Design-based

CATEGORY	DEFINITION	EXAMPLE PROJECTS
Branding Excellence Award	Recognises outstanding achievements in the visual and communicative aspects of promoting museums, galleries, or cultural institutions.	Exhibition promotional design, project or institutional identity; branding; annual reports; information brochure; maps; wayfinding; poster.
Digital Excellence Award	Recognises projects that demonstrate excellence in leveraging digital design to enhance accessibility, engagement, storytelling and communication of the institution or program purpose.	Digital solutions created for an institution including websites created to accompany a physical exhibition or education program; applications for use on mobile devices; online exhibitions (presented entirely online); streamed or web-based virtual tour; online activity; e-learning program or game.
Excellence in Print	Recognises projects that demonstrate exceptional skill and innovation in the design of printed materials and publications that communicate information about exhibitions, collections, and cultural narratives through media.	Book, exhibition catalogue, magazine.
Kids in Print	Recognises projects that demonstrate exceptional creativity and skill in producing visually engaging and informative publications that cater to the unique needs and interests of children and young audiences.	Book or activity book made for children.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

INNOVATIVE: We celebrate initiatives that redefine the norm. Consider how your project has surpassed industry standards, pushed boundaries, or introduced new ways of thinking or doing that will drive the sector forward.

ACCESSIBLE & EQUITABLE: We recognise the importance of inclusivity. Consider how your project has effectively engaged diverse audiences or championed equitable approaches that ensure accessibility for everyone.

EMPOWERING: We value placing people first. Consider how your project empowers communities, staff, creators, and the public. Explore how your initiative prioritises the well-being and empowerment of stakeholders over institutional interests.

LEGACY-BUILDING: We understand the significance of long-term impact. Consider how well your project aligns with your organisational goals and contributes to an on-going legacy, benefiting both the organisation and the communities it serves.

FOR OUR TIME: We elevate works of relevance. Consider how your project addresses current challenges and needs impacting society, the environment, institutions, etc.

HOW TO ENTER

Preview the 2026 Project Awards Questionnaire for a copy of the nomination form.
Access the nomination form from Thursday 28 May 2026.
Fill in the nomination form and address all submission criteria (listed below). You can save your progress and return to the form at a later time.
Once complete, submit the nomination form and pay the associated fee.
For Excellence in Print and Kids in Print categories, package your physical entries and post them to AMaGA.
All entries (applications and pyscial entries) must be received by the close date of Sunday 16 August 2026.
Your submission will be reviewed and approved by AMaGA.
Await the shortlist to be announced on Monday 5 October 2026.

SUBMISSION CRITERIA	INCLUSIONS
Nominee details	Provide the nominated organisation's details, including name, contact details, membership number and level.
Project details	Provide the project details, including award category, title, description, budget, and collaborators/partners.
Assessment criteria	Address each of the five assessment criteria, outlining project achievements and outcomes.
Support materials	Attach supporting documents as follows: Images (required): Attach three (3) high-resolution (300dpi) digital images as separate files, which may be used for promotional use. Please ensure that permissions have been sought prior to uploading images, and be sure to provide credit details (photographer and, where relevant, artist details), brief captions, and requirements for cultural sensitivity warnings (if applicable). *Institutional endorsement (required only* for design-based award nominations involving consultants/design partners): Nominator must provide written documentation (email, letter, etc.) that demonstrates the endorsement of the project nomination by the partner organisation/consultant. Exhibition walkthrough (required only for Exhibiting Excellence Award nominations): For exhibitions or gallery fit-out projects, you must provide a visual walkthrough of the space via PDF, PowerPoint, or YouTube format along with explanations of the visuals. Copies of design projects (required only for electronic design-based award nominations): Provide copies of your electronic design projects via file attachement or providing a URL. Confirm shipment of pysical entries for the Excellence in Print and Kids in Print nominations. Addtional details have been provided below. Other (optional):** Provide up to three (3) pages of material that supports the nomination. This can include press clippings, publications, letters of support, other industry awards, etc.

NOMINATION FEES

Nomination fees apply for any entries in excess of the initial 2 free nominations. Discounts are available for bulk nominations (details below). All fees are exclusive of GST. If you'd like to nominate and are not an AMaGA member, find out how to become an organisational member!

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY	NO. OF FREE ENTRIES	FEE PER ADDITIONAL ENTRY
Level A	2	$15
Level B	2	$30
Level C	2	$45
Level D	2	$60
Level E	2	$75
Level F and G	2	$100

Additional information:

All submissions in a single category are assessed together. However:
- Categories that receive a large number of submissions (> 10) may be sub-divided into levels (based on project budget).
- The number of sub-divided categories could change each year according to what the sector is producing.

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

General:

Organisations may submit multiple entries in any category, but discrete project elements (i.e. exhibition catalogue vs exhibition website) will only be assessed in one category.
By submitting a nomination, the entrant grants permission to AMaGA for the reproduction of winning entries for the purposes of publicity and promotion at no charge; entrants must warrant they have the right to allow such use by AMaGA.
All nominations will be credited as per the information provided on the entry forms, and it is imperative you ensure accurate listing of names.
The winner of each category will receive an award and certificate, as well as an acknowledgement on the AMaGA website. Entries of high distinction will be recognised as Highly Commended.
An independent and impartial judging panel drawn from the museum, gallery, and graphic design sectors will assess the entries.
The judging panel reserves the right to not grant an award in any category if it considers one is not merited, or to grant a joint award. Decisions made by the panel are final.

Design-based entries:

Volumes or series of publications may be submitted as one entry (e.g. newsletters, magazines, posters, online).
For multimedia and website entries, provide the URL address for viewing or upload the file when completing the entry form.
For the Excellence in Print and Kids in Print categories, one physical copy of each publication must be submitted in its original printed form:
- Post to AMaGA National, PO Box 24, West Deakin, ACT 2600.
- Include your registration number with each submission.
- Publications must arrive by the specified closing date.
- Entrants bear the responsibility of ensuring the timely submission, good condition, and accuracy of information for each entry.
- Publications will not be returned and become the physical property of AMaGA. They may be exhibited at the annual National Conference and subsequently sold to raise funds for AMaGA.