First prize of $10,000 plus a two week at residency at Glenhuntly Estate in the Hawkesbury is awarded to the winning entry. Two highly commended prizes of $1000 plus an additional art residency are also awarded. Three eminent visual arts professionals judge the prize and select the finalists. The art prize is for a painting that is inspired by contemporary Australian identity. Artists are invited to respond to the concept of contemporary identity in Australian life. Accordingly, the theme often helps artists explain the rapidly changing environment in which they live, or conversely, promotes diverse portrayals of history, landscape, place, and ways of seeing. The ensuing exhibition showcases the freshness and vitality of the creative artists that enrich our Australian communities. The winning works form an important collection of modern and contemporary art reflecting evolution in Australian identity, landscape and arts practice in the contemporary era. The prize has been set up in Hawkesbury as a not for profit project.