Victorian artists invited to apply for The 2025 Urbach Landscape Prize and Studio Scholarship.

Shepparton Art Museum (SAM) invites Victorian-based artists to apply for the 2025 Theodore Urbach Landscape Prize and Studio Scholarship (“The Urbach”). Applications for the $10,000 prize and scholarship encouraging explorations in the field Australian landscape painting are currently open and will close on 3 March 2025.

Awarded to an individual Victorian-based artist working in the field of Australian landscape painting, The Urbach celebrates the creative process and acknowledges that artists need time and space to further their creative practice. The awarded artist will receive a $5,000 cash prize and a scholarship stipend of $5,000 to support them as they undertake the three-month, non-residential scholarship at SAM’s onsite artist studio from 1 May to 31 July 2025. In addition to the first prize, two runners-up will each be awarded a $2,500 prize in recognition of their time and commitment in developing their applications.

In 2024, The Urbach was awarded to Echuca-based artist Ellen Lee, who focused her scholarship period on furthering her abstract visual practice, drawing inspiration from the wetlands and local birdlife of Victoria Lake.

When reflecting on the impact of the Urbach on her creative practice, Lee says:

“I knew being awarded The Urbach was a good thing, but I don’t think I knew just how expansive it was going to be for me. The staff at SAM are incredibly supportive, and very generous with their time and knowledge. During the scholarship, you have the opportunity to have conversations with industry professionals, and you receive feedback that really resonates with you. It helps you to become more confident in talking about your work, and even in just letting people into the process. If anyone is thinking of applying for The Urbach, I certainly think they should go for it—for an emerging artist, this is a fantastic experience.”

The Urbach program is generously supported by the Theodore Urbach Landscape Painting Scholarship and Prize Charitable Trust. The trust, established through the will of late philanthropist and arts patron Theodore Urbach, was designed to provide prizes and scholarship opportunities to benefit artists and students working in the field of Australian landscape painting.

Online applications to The Urbach close on 3 March 2025. To view the full eligibility criteria,  program guidelines, and commence your application, visit the SAM website: https://sheppartonartmuseum.com.au/support-get-involved/the-urbach/

The Urbach 2025 Details:

• Open to artists working in the field of Australian landscape painting, which includes painting, drawing, and photography.
• Applicants must be living in Victoria.
  • The Urbach First Prize
    • $5,000 cash prize
    • $5,000 scholarship stipend
    • 3-month access to the SAM Artist Studio to undertake the scholarship
    • Tailored professional development opportunities.
  • The Urbach Second Prizes
    • $2,500 cash prize for two runners up in recognition of their time and commitment in developing their applications and presenting to the panel.

Applications close: 3 March 2025

Application & guidelines on the SAM Website: https://sheppartonartmuseum.com.au/support-get-involved/the-urbach/

ENDS