2026 REEFLECTIONS ART COMPETITION

Whitsunday Student Art Competition

Heart Hotel and Gallery Whitsundays proudly presents a student art initiative designed to inspire creativity, strengthen community connections, and highlight the beauty of our marine environment.

In official partnership with the Great Barrier Reef Festival, this initiative invites high school students to create reef-inspired wall art that will be showcased as part of the festival’s immersive visual installations.

Finalist artworks will be professionally exhibited within the gallery space, culminating in a public unveiling during the festival. A celebration of youth creativity, artistic storytelling, and marine conservation.

Eligibility

Call for entries from 1 April 2026 to 22 July 2026!

Free to enter!

Entries close 5pm 22 July 2026.

Open to 2026 students in Years 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 from:

Proserpine State Highschool, QLD
St Catherine’s Catholic College, Proserpine, QLD
Whitsunday Christian College, QLD

Theme:

Whitsundays, The Great Barrier Reef – Celebrating Marine Beauty and Conservation inspired by the Great Barrier Reef’s beauty, biodiversity, and conservation.

Submissions may include abstract or realistic.

Artwork submissions should:

be creative, original, and reflect a high level of artistic skill and craftsmanship
align with the elegant and contemporary aesthetic of Heart Hotel and Gallery Whitsundays
showcase thoughtful composition, depth, and a unique artistic perspective
demonstrate originality, depth, and technical skill
focus on themes such as marine life, coral ecosystems, and ocean conservation.
be accompanied by a 30–150-word artist statement including the student’s name and school.

Size of art:

2 Dimensional work submissions must be ‘gallery ready’ with appropriate hanging system and under A1 size (594mm x 841mm) suitable for wall display
3D sculptural works maximum recommended sizing 400mm-600mm
Sculptural artwork must be self-standing suitable for a table display
Materials should be safe, durable, and appropriate for a hotel indoor gallery setting.

Artwork to be initially presented to School art teacher prior to 22 July 2026 who will coordinate with judging panel.

Is at the discretion of the judging panel which artwork will be displayed in the Heart hotel and Gallery Whitsundays.

Submission Requirements

All entries must be submitted by the published deadline 5pm 22 July 2026, accompanied by a completed online entry form electronically signed by the student and a parent or guardian.
Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
Each participant may submit a maximum of two original pieces of artwork created independently.
See form below to submit your artwork.

Display and Ownership

Selected artworks will be displayed in the Heart Hotel and Gallery Whitsundays for the month of August 2026.

All artworks remain the property of the student, unless a separate written agreement states otherwise.

Once the finalists have been announced, a nominated teacher representative will coordinate the delivery of student artwork to the Heart Hotel and Gallery Whitsundays.

At the conclusion of the exhibition, the school will be notified and arrangements made for the collection and redistribution of the artworks back to the participating students.

Judging and Prizes

A panel of judges will assess all entries based on creativity, originality, technique, and thematic relevance.

Winners will be formally announced during the Great Barrier Reef Festival as part of an award ceremony open to students, families, school representatives, and the community.

Cash prizes will be awarded as follows:
First Prize: $300.00
Second Prize: $150.00
Third Prize: $50.00

Finalists and winners will be publicly recognised via local media, online platforms, and during the Great Barrier Reef Festival itself.

In addition to the cash prizes, all finalist entries will be entered into a draw to win two nights’ accommodation at Grand Mercure Apartments Magnetic Island. The prize includes a two-bedroom apartment two night stay for up to two adults and two children. Please note: flights, meals, ferry transfers, and any incidental expenses are not included.

Grand Mercure Apartments Magnetic Island accommodation prize is subject to availability. Prize voucher will be forfeited if cancelled or in the event of a no show. Prize voucher cannot be redeemed for cash. Prize Voucher must be used in a continuous booking. Prize voucher is not transferable. Minimum night stay may be applicable. Other terms and conditions may apply

All prizes are non-transferable and not redeemable for cash (except cash prizes as stated).

The judges’ decisions are final and binding. No correspondence or appeals will be entered into regarding the results.

Media and Publicity Consent

By entering, participants and their guardians consent to:

The student’s first name, school, and artwork title being displayed alongside their work.
The use of photographs and videos taken at the exhibition, including images of students and their artwork, for promotional purposes across social media, blogs, print, and television media.
Participation in any scheduled photo opportunities with judges or event sponsors.

Privacy and Data Use

Personal information collected will be used solely for purposes related to the exhibition and managed in accordance with applicable privacy legislation.
Consent may be withdrawn at any time by written request; however, this may affect eligibility for publicity-based prizes or features.
Students who do not wish to be photographed or have their identifying details shared may still participate in the exhibition. This preference must be clearly marked on the entry form.

Liability

While all reasonable care will be taken, the organisers and associated venues accept no responsibility for any loss, theft, or damage to artworks during transport, handling, installation, display, or removal.

By submitting an artwork, participants acknowledge and accept that they do so at their own risk.

General Conditions

The organiser reserves the right to make modifications to the event schedule or prizes if necessary.
Entries must not contain inappropriate or offensive content.
By submitting an artwork, the student and their guardian agree to be bound by these terms in full.

Questions?

Please email [email protected] for more information

Submission of artwork

By submitting artwork, the student and their parent or guardian agree to be bound by these terms and conditions in full.

Please ensure you have included:

Completed entry form, electronically signed by both the student and a parent or guardian
30–150-word artist statement entered in the designated text box
Clear photo of the artwork being submitted.

Note: A maximum of two submissions are allowed per student. Each submission must feature a separate, individual piece of artwork.

Name(Required)

Student First Name Student Last Name

Select which school you attend:(Required)

Proserpine State Highschool, QLD

St Catherine’s Catholic College, Proserpine, QLD

Whitsunday Christian College, QLD

Select which year you are in:(Required)

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

Email(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Phone(Required)

Name(Required)

Parent or Guardian First Name Parent or Guardian Last Name

Parent or Guardian Email(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Parent or Guardian Phone(Required)

Please select artwork description(Required)

Gallery ready 2 dimensional work suitable for wall display

3D sculptural works maximum recommended sizing 400mm-600mm

Artwork Title(Required)

30–150 word artist statement describing artwork(Required)

Upload clear photo(s) of the artwork being submitted.(Required)

Drop files here or

Accepted file types: jpg, png, pdf, Max. file size: 50 MB.

*Each submission must feature a separate, individual piece of artwork.

Reeflections Competition Terms and Conditions(Required)

Reeflections Art Competition 2026
Terms and Conditions
By entering, participants and their guardians consent to the following:
Entries close 5pm 22 July 2026.
Eligibility
Open to 2026 students in Years 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 from:
Proserpine State High School, QLD
St Catherine’s Catholic College, Proserpine, QLD
Whitsunday Christian College, QLD
Theme
Whitsundays, The Great Barrier Reef – Celebrating Marine Beauty and Conservation.
Submissions may be abstract or realistic, inspired by the Reef’s beauty, biodiversity, and conservation efforts.
Submission Guidelines
Artwork submissions must:
Be submitted no later than 5pm EST, 22 July 2026.
Be creative, original, and showcase artistic skill and craftsmanship.
Align with the elegant and contemporary aesthetic of Heart Hotel and Gallery Whitsundays.
Demonstrate thoughtful composition, depth, and originality.
Focus on themes such as marine life, coral ecosystems, or ocean conservation.
Be accompanied by a 30–150-word artist statement, including student’s name and school.
Artwork Specifications
2D works: Under A1 size (594mm × 841mm), gallery-ready with appropriate hanging system.
3D works: Maximum 400mm–600mm, self-standing, suitable for tabletop display.
Materials must be safe, durable, and appropriate for a hotel indoor gallery setting.
Submission Process
Artworks must be presented to a school art teacher prior to 22 July 2026.
The judging panel will determine which works are exhibited.
A maximum of two entries per student (one submission per piece).
Each entry must include a signed entry form from the student and their parent/guardian.
Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
Exhibition Details
Selected artworks will be exhibited during August 2026 at the Heart Hotel and Gallery Whitsundays.
Artworks remain the student’s property unless otherwise agreed.
Teacher representatives will assist with artwork delivery and post-exhibition collection.
Judging and Prizes
Judging will consider creativity, originality, technique, and thematic alignment.
Winners will be announced during the Great Barrier Reef Festival, in an event open to students, schools, and the community.

Prizes:
First Prize: $300.00
Second Prize: $150.00
Third Prize: $50.00

All finalists enter a draw to win two nights’ accommodation at Grand Mercure Apartments Magnetic Island, in a two-bedroom apartment for up to two adults and two children
Accommodation only. Flights, meals, ferry transfers, and incidental costs are not included. Prize is subject to availability, non-refundable, non-transferable, and must be used in one continuous booking. Minimum stay restrictions may apply.
Media & Promotion
By entering, students and guardians consent to:
Display of student’s first name, school, and artwork title.
Use of images/videos of the student and artwork in social media, blogs, press, and television.
Participation in promotional photo opportunities with judges or sponsors.
Students who prefer not to be photographed or named may indicate this clearly on the entry form and will still be eligible to participate and win prizes.
Privacy
Personal information will be used solely for competition purposes and handled per privacy legislation.
Consent may be withdrawn in writing at any time.
Liability
While all care will be taken, organisers are not responsible for any loss, theft, or damage to artworks.
Students submit their work at their own risk and are encouraged to insure valuable pieces.
Defamation and Warranty Disclaimer
The organisers, sponsors, judges, and associated parties accept no responsibility for any perceived defamation, misinterpretation, or reputational impact relating to the content, presentation, or interpretation of submitted artworks.
Participants warrant that their artwork is original, does not infringe upon any copyright or intellectual property rights, and does not contain content that is defamatory, discriminatory, or otherwise unlawful.
By submitting an artwork, the entrant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the organisers and associated parties from any claims arising from breach of these warranties.
General Conditions
Entries containing inappropriate or offensive content will be excluded.
Organisers reserve the right to adjust event details or prizes as needed.
Judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Submission of artwork constitutes full agreement to these terms.

For questions or further clarification, please contact: [email protected]

I, the student artist, and my parent or guardian (both named above) agree to the the competition terms and conditions.

Image and Media Consent(Required)

Please read and acknowledge the following:
– I give permission for photographs, video, audio, and other recordings of the student named above and their artwork to be used by Heart Hotel and Gallery Whitsundays and at Hotel Group for promotional purposes, including but not limited to print, online, social media, and blogs.
– I understand these materials may be accessed globally online and that no financial compensation will be provided.
– I confirm as their parent/ guardian I have discussed this with the student and they agree.
– I acknowledge that ownership of these materials remains with the Heart Hotel and Gallery Whitsundays and at Hotel Group.
– I understand I may withdraw my consent at any time by contacting [email protected]

I, the student artist, and my parent or guardian (both named above) agree to the Image and Media Consent as outlined below.

CAPTCHA

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If you are experiencing difficulty filling out this form please email [email protected]

Artwork Credit- *Reef of Chance* merges coral reefs with playing cards to explore nature’s fragility and the unpredictability of life. The work reflects on how chance, strategy, and human impact intertwine within ecosystems. It invites reflection on the delicate balance between natural beauty and the randomness—or control—of human influence. Lily Smith Year 10, 2025 Reeflections artist.