Celebrating female Australian artists

The Portia Geach Memorial Award is a celebration of female Australian artists. It’s Australia’s most prestigious portrait prize for female artists and has greatly contributed to the development of female artists in this country.

It was established by Florence Kate Geach in 1961 in memory of her sister, Portia Geach and is awarded each year to the best portrait painted from life of some man or woman distinguished in Art, Letters or the Sciences.

Are you eligible?
To be eligible for this award, you must be a female Australian resident who is either Australian born, British born or a naturalised Australian.

Please also check the current application form for other eligibility details.

The award’s value
The recipient of the 2008 Portia Geach Memorial Award will receive $18,000.

The Portia Geach Memorial Award 2009

How to apply
Entries for the 2009 Portia Geach Award are now being accepted. The application form is available here.

Important Dates

29 August 2009 - Close of entries date 

Please note that all application forms and fees must be submitted to the Cauz Group offices no later than 5.30pm on the closing date.

24 September 2009 - Official opening and announcement of winner

25 September 2009 - Exhibition opens at the S.H Ervin Gallery, Watson Road, Observatory Hill, Sydney

8 November 2009 - Exhibition closes at the S.H Ervin Gallery, Sydney 

Previous Winners

Previous winners of the Portia Geach Memorial Award include:

  • 2008 Jude Rae, Self Portrait 2008 (the year my husband left) 
  • 2007 Maryanne Coutts, Melbourne
  • 2006 Lucy Culliton, Self with Friends
  • 2005 Jude Rae, Large Interior (Micky Allan)
  • 2004 Nerrisa Lea, The Sheik & Me, Self Portrait with Imagined Portrait of Chad Morgan after Frida Kahlo
  • 2003 Wendy Sharpe, Self Portrait with Tea Cup and Burning Paintings
  • 2002 Vicki Varvaressos, Self Portrait with Painting
  • 2001 Mary Moore, At Home
  • 2000 Nancy Borlase, The Sisters: Marie and Vida Breckenridge
Trust as Trustee

Further information
Trust is the trustee for the Portia Geach Memorial Award.

For more information about the award, please contact Petrea Salter, Cauz Group Pty Limited, on (02) 9144 2415 or trustawards@cauzgroup.com.au

Want to be updated on milestones for this award? Please send your email address with “Portia Geach” in the subject line to: psalter@cauzgroup.com.au  

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