Applications are officially open for Queerthentic 2026. The Central Victorian LGBTQIA+ Regional Art Prize spotlights bold, heartfelt and deeply personal stories from across Australia’s regional and marginalised communities.
Run by a group of passionate, queer volunteers, Queerthentic has become a vital platform for artists whose voices are too often missing from metro gallery walls.
Following the momentum of last year’s powerful showcase, the team is ready to grow the prize even further in 2026.
The prize invites artists to explore their own interpretation of Queerthentic. Whether that’s the beauty of everyday queer life, the fabulousness of culture and chosen family, or the ways history and identity shape the present and future.
The exhibition will run at The Old Auction House in Kyneton from 30 April to 25 May 2026, with the winners announced at a special IDAHOBIT celebration on Saturday 16 May.
With the help of supportive sponsors, this year’s prize pool has grown to more than $2000. The winners will take home:
- $1000 cash + a solo exhibition for the winner
- $500 for the runner-up
-
$500 People’s Choice award
Entries are $15 per artwork, with artists able to submit up to four pieces. Submissions close 23 April 2026, and early applications are encouraged.
Image: SuppliedWhat ‘Queerthentic’ really means
Adjective [kweer-THEN-tik]
1. A state of being whereby you embrace your place within the LGBTQIA+ or gender-diverse community.
2. Living authentically and genuinely, true to your own feelings, beliefs, and experiences with a sense of empowerment, self-acceptance, and living without the constraints of societal norms or expectations.
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The young artist who took out 2025
Last year’s winner was Geordie Gem Williamson, a 17-year-old trans man from Woodend. He made a huge impact with his oil painting, A Sticky Situation, taking home both first prize and the People’s Choice award.
The work explored the ongoing physical and emotional discomfort of chest binding and gender dysphoria.
“The concept stems from the restrictive and uncomfortable nature of chest binding as a response to gender dysphoria,” Gem said.
“The tape wraps messily around the face, prickling and pulling on every hair, echoing the binder I wear over my shoulders.”
The expression of pain as an everyday reality struck a powerful chord with audiences and judges alike, marking the artist as an extraordinary emerging talent.
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Why regional queer representation matters
Queerthentic isn’t just an art prize, it’s a cultural space where regional LGBTQIA+ stories are seen, valued and celebrated. For artists outside major cities, that visibility can be transformative.
If you’re a regional queer artist with a story to tell, Queerthentic 2026 is ready for you.
Because your authenticity belongs on the wall.
To learn more about Queerthentic or submit your application, visit mraai.org.au/queerthentic2026.
Image: SuppliedFor the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, and community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
