2026 WMYC Art Awards
WMYC Art Awards 2026 – Art by the Bay
Nautical — the sea, the boats, the birds, the light, the weather, and the stories along the foreshore
A waterfront winter exhibition opens 19 June, with a gala awards night on 27 June - artworks on display during normal WMYC & Captain’s Parrot Café hours.
From 19 June to 2 July, Wynnum Manly Yacht Club will transform its waterfront clubhouse into a nautical‑themed art gallery showcasing works inspired by the sea, shoreline and Bayside stories. Visit during club and café hours, vote in the People’s Choice Award, and join us for the spectacular Gala Awards Night on 27 June, where winners are announced as the sun sets over the marina.
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Key Dates
- Exhibition Opens: Friday, 19 June 2026 — artworks on display during normal WMYC & Captain’s Parrot Café hours
- Gala Awards Night: Saturday, 27 June 2026 — Ticketed event. Gala starts 4pm, awards presented at 5:30pm
- Art Sales Week: 28 June – 2 July 2026 — dedicated period for viewing and purchasing artworks
- Exhibition Ends: Thursday, 2 July 2026 — Removal of artworks (including purchased) from this date
Judging Panel
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Michael Eather, FireWorks GalleryWe’re honoured to introduce one of our esteemed judges, Michael Eather — a highly respected Brisbane-based artist, curator, and gallerist whose career spans decades of impactful work across Australia. Born in Launceston, Tasmania, and now based in Brisbane, Michael has been a driving force in the Australian art scene since the 1980s. A graduate of the Tasmanian School of Art (University of Tasmania), his practice is deeply rooted in sculpture and has evolved into a dynamic, multi-disciplinary career encompassing painting, collaboration, curation, and consultancy. Michael is the founder and Director of FireWorks Gallery, one of Australia’s longest-running independent contemporary art galleries. Through this work, he has played a vital role in showcasing both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian artists — fostering meaningful dialogue across cultures, generations, and artistic traditions. In 1990, he co-founded Campfire Group Projects, championing cross-cultural collaboration — a thread that continues to shape his work today. More recently, he established Ghost Ship Studio in Brisbane, where he continues to create and collaborate on new sculptural and painted works. With extensive experience in contemporary Indigenous art and a lifelong commitment to artistic exchange, Michael brings an extraordinary depth of insight to our judging panel. |
About the 2026 WMYC Art Awards
The 2026 WMYC Art Awards welcome both emerging and established artists to exhibit nautical‑themed works in our transformed waterfront clubhouse gallery. Visitors can view, vote, and purchase artworks throughout the exhibition, which continues beyond gala night.
A Proven Platform for Artists
The 2019 Awards delivered the club’s “best‑ever display of art,” featuring winners including Jo Teys, Rita Russell, Kevin Dick, Peter Steller, Lyndal Stangler, Maris Rocke, Evelyn Upton, Janine Healy, and Member’s Choice recipient De Gillett Cox for “Into the Swell.”
The 2026 Awards aim to honour that tradition with another exceptional showcase of Bayside creativity.
The 2026 Awards aim to honour that tradition with another exceptional showcase of Bayside creativity.
How the Awards Work
Artists can expect a professionally run event with clear timelines, guided by a dedicated curator and arts committee. Artwork submissions open 1 May and close 5 June, with pieces themed around the irresistible brief: Nautical — the sea, the boats, the birds, the light, the weather, and the stories along the foreshore.
The event welcomes past exhibitors and new entrants from across Australia, strengthening Wynnum Manly’s growing reputation as a Bayside arts destination.
Awards, Prizes & Sales
A generous prize pool is offered across categories, including 2D, 3D and a People’s Choice Award, which invites the public into the heart of the judging experience. The club also facilitates artwork sales on behalf of artists, giving visitors the chance to purchase original works throughout the show.
Prizes:
1. People's Choice - Monte Marte art supplies + $300
2. 2D - Fantastic Framing $600 voucher + $350
3. 3D - Fairfield Travel $500 voucher + $350
Gala Night – 27 June
The centrepiece event is the Gala and Judging Night, held the second Saturday after opening. The evening begins at 4pm with awards announced at 5:30pm. It’s a warm, community‑minded celebration with complimentary canapes by The Captain's Parrot, and a glass of wine, set against the backdrop of the marina. Attendees will be invited to vote for the People's Choice Award and take part in the Charity Raffle, proceeds going to Sails at Bayside. Entertainment will be provided by APRA Screen Awards Feature Film Score of the year winner Salliana Seven, composer of the music from Leah Purcell’s The Drovers Wife.
A Warm Bayside Experience
Curator Randell Armitage describes the event as “A gallery, but with the warmth of a clubhouse… artists, sailors, families and friends all sharing a space where the sea is the muse and the community is the audience.” Commodore John Vandermaat adds that the Awards show the club at its most welcoming, a place where people come for the view, the food, the sailing, and the art.
Proudly Supporting our Charity Partner
Thank you to our Sponsors
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Sponsors
