2026 Youth Art Futures Competition

Important Dates

Entries open: Monday 2 February 2026 

Entries close: Monday 16 March 2026

Artwork Delivery Dates

Artworks can be delivered on one of the following dates to Colac Otway Performing Arts and Cultural Centre (COPACC) to the Gallery Foyer 95-97 Gellibrand St, Colac.

• Monday 16 March 2026 between 3:00pm - 5:30pm
• Tuesday 17 March 2026 between 3:00pm - 5:30pm
• Wednesday 18 March between 3:00pm - 5:30pm 
• Sunday 22 March between 11:00am - 1:00pm

Other artwork delivery options are available please contact Council's Youth Engagement Team

Public Exhibition: Saturday 28 March 2026 - Sunday 19 April 2026 at COPACC, Colac Otway Performing Arts and Cultural Centre 95-97 Gellibrand St, Colac.

Online Exhibition: All entries available to view on Council's Website from Saturday 28 March 2026.

 Artwork collection: Monday 20 April 2026 from 9:00am - 5:30pm. Other artwork collection arrangements can be organised with the Council's Youth Engagement Team.

2026 Youth Art Futures Competition Terms and Conditions

• Entry into the 2026 Youth Art Futures Competition means that you accept the terms and conditions.

• The Promoter is Colac Otway Shire Council (ABN 32 430 819 755) of 2-6 Rae Street, Colac.

WHO CAN ENTER

• Entry is open to all young people aged 12 to 25 years who live, work, play, and/or study within the Colac Otway Shire.
  
  

HOW TO ENTER

• Entries are open from Monday, 2 February 2026 to Monday 16 March 2026. No entries will be accepted after 11:59pm on Monday 16 March 2026.
• To be eligible to enter you must be aged 12-25, live, work, play and/or study in Colac Otway Shire.
• Entrants can enter between 1-3 individual artworks.
• The images of the artwork/s must be a JPEG or JPG and not exceed 5MB. Entry forms can be submitted via Council’s website, emailed to: inq@colacotway.vic.gov.au or completed forms can be returned to one of Council's Customer Service Centres (Apollo Bay and/or Colac) to Council's Youth Engagement Team.

• Entrants must complete all relevant forms in full to be eligible for entry. All details provided by entrant must be true and correct. Entries must be the artist/artists' original artwork.

• Artworks must be of good quality and be in good taste. Council maintains the right to refuse entry for any offensive or inappropriate artworks. Entries who don’t meet the conditions listed in the terms and conditions will not be displayed.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

• Colac Otway Shire Council reserves the right to verify the validity of entries and to disqualify any entrant who tampers with or does not comply with the entry process.
• By entering this competition, you give the Colac Otway Shire Council permission to use your artworks in promotion of the exhibition and for future promotions or Council publications. There will be no payment for use of artworks by Council. The photos will not be on-sold to a third party. As owner of the copyright of your entry, you grant Council and its partners exclusive, irrevocable, royalty free, worldwide licence to use the photos comprising your artwork in any form at its absolute discretion. Where possible, Council and its partners will acknowledge the entrant as owner.
• Colac Otway Shire Council reserves the right to use photographs of artwork for publicity, advertising and promotional purposes.
• All artworks will be displayed in an online exhibition on Colac Otway Shire Council’s website and social media pages.
• Select artwork entries will be displayed by the Colac Otway Shire Council's Youth Engagement Team in a public exhibition from Saturday 28 March - Sunday 19 April 2026 at COPACC (Colac Otway Performing Arts and Cultural Centre) in the Gallery Foyer. Details of a celebration event are to be confirmed.
• Insurance of work is the responsibility of the Artist. Whilst all reasonable care will be taken with the handling of artwork neither Colac Otway Shire Council will be responsible for any loss or damage to artwork for the duration of the 2026 Youth Art Futures Competition exhibition.
• Council is not responsible for entries that are not received or are received late.
• Art entries will be judged by the judging panel. The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
  
  

PRIZES

• 2026 Youth Art Futures Competition winners will be chosen by a judging panel.
• People’s Choice Award Winners will be selected by the public via Council's website, social media and public exhibition.
• Winners will be notified directly as well as announced on Council’s website and Council’s social media channels.
• Winners agree to participate and cooperate as required in all editorial or marketing activities relating to the Competition, including but not limited to being interviewed and photographed. The winner grants the Promoter a perpetual and non-exclusive license to use such footage and photographs in all media worldwide and the winner will not be entitled to any fee for such use.
• The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

USE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION

• Council is collecting this personal information for the purpose to conduct the 2026 Youth Art Futures Competition and may, for this purpose, disclose such information to third parties, including but not limited to internal council purposes, contractors, service providers and prize suppliers.
• Entry is conditional on providing this information. Council may, for an indefinite period, use this information for promotional, marketing, publicity, research, profiling and/or other purposes, including sending electronic messages or telephoning the entrant. Entrants should direct any request to access, update, or correct information to Council. If you fail to provide this information, Council cannot process your entry. You may access this information by contacting Council on 03 5232 9400 or inq@colacotway.vic.gov.au.
• Personal information will be managed and stored by Council in accordance with Colac Otway Shire Council’s privacy and data protection policy. You can read more about how we handle your information here.

When do entries open? Entries open via Council's Website on Monday 2 February 2026.

Who can enter? Entry is open to all young people aged 12 to 25 years who live, work, play, and/or study within the Colac Otway Shire.

What are examples of art mediums can I enter? Art mediums could include digital art, drawing (charcoal, ink, pencil, pastels, texters), sculpture (ceramic, clay, metal, wood), painting (acrylic, oil, watercolour), photography (photo entry must be printed and/or framed), printmaking (linocut, woodcut, etching, screen printing), mixed media, textiles, and woodwork.

How many artworks can I enter? Artist/s can enter a maximum of three (3) artworks/art pieces. Please complete an entry form for each artwork.

I haven't finished my artwork yet can I enter? Yes, please complete an entry form with the details you can. We can finalise details such as artwork title when artwork is delivered.

Who can I contact for further information? Please contact Council's Youth Engagement Team inq@colacotway.vic.gov.au or 03) 5232 9400

How do I know if my entry form has been received? Once you have submitted an entry, a message should display to say your entry has been successfully received. Council's Youth Engagement Team will also contact you within 2 days to confirm your artwork entry.

Where do I deliver my artwork/s once I have completed my entry form? Artwork/s can be delivered on Monday 16 March, Tuesday 17 March, Wednesday 18 March between 3:00pm - 5:30pm and Sunday 22 March between 11:00am - 1:00pm to the COPACC Gallery Foyer, Colac Otway Performing Arts and Cultural Centre 95-97 Gellibrand St, Colac.

What if I can't deliver my artwork on one of the artwork delivery dates? Other delivery options are available and can be organised by contacting Council's Youth Engagement Team inq@colacotway.vic.gov.au or 03) 5232 9400.

Can someone else deliver my artwork/s? Yes, someone else can deliver your artwork/s on your behalf as long as your entry form has been completed.

Are there prizes for the 2026 Youth Art Futures Competition? Yes, there is a variety of prizes on offer in each age category (first place, second place, encouragement awards) and people's choice category.