The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize is an annual Australian portrait prize founded by Doug Moran in 1988, the year of Australia's Bicentenary. It is the richest portrait prize in the world with A$150,000 awarded to the winner. The prize is acquisitive; "the winning portrait immediately becomes the property of the Moran Arts Foundation, to be exhibited permanently as part of the Moran Arts Foundation Collection".[1]
The aim of the competition is to promote contemporary Australian portraiture and, as such, entry conditions stipulate that both the artist and their subject be an Australian citizen or resident for at least one year prior to the closing date for entries, however it is not required that the artist or the subject be well known.
There was a court case in 2002–2004 involving the Moran family and the Tweed Shire Council, which ended with an out of court settlement. Following this, there was no longer a $1,000 prize paid to the 30 finalists who did not win, and no longer an international judge.[2] This has now changed back and finalists again receive $1,000.[1]
As of 2024 the prize has been put on hold, with no awards being run in 2023 or 2024.[3]
- ^ a b Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, moranprizes.com.au
- ^ Sharon Verghis (2 June 2004). "How divorce was raised to a high art". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ Burke, Kelly (24 May 2024). "Doug Moran prize: Australia's richest portrait award quietly 'put on hold'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 September 2024.