Artwork Guidelines
Thank you for taking part in the 2026 Tenant Art Show!
The 2026 Art Show will be held at Mothership Studios from Monday 1 to Saturday 6 June 2026.
We are pleased to announce that we have secured renowned Aboriginal artist Dennis Golding as the curator for this years Art Show.
See Tenant Art Show webpage for more info.
Who can participate
- Open to all Bridge tenants or household members.
- Each artist is encouraged to submit 1 to 3 artworks.
- If you submit more than 3, Bridge Housing reserves the right not to display additional pieces.
Artwork requirements
- All artworks must be original.
- This year’s theme celebrates truth telling and belonging.
- Artworks must not incite violence, discrimination, or hate in any form.
- If you are a non-indigenous artist your artwork must not culturally appropriate Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander art. Why is this important and what does it mean?
- Most formats/mediums will be accepted if it is able to be easily transported and reasonably fits in the gallery.
Submission process
- Complete an Artwork entry form
- This form includes things like; your contact details, artist bio, details about the artwork and a photo, and how it should be displayed.
- Bring your artwork to either Bridge office or arrange to give it to the Community Team by the submission deadline of 20 May, 2026.
- Each piece should include your first name on the back in pencil if possible.
Exhibition & Sale
- All artwork will be displayed at the Mothership Gallery during the exhibition.
- You can choose to sell your artwork
- Artists receive 100% of the sale price. This is paid to them via a refund into their rent account.
- Bridge Housing will notify artists if their work sold by 20 June and pay artists on or before 30 July 2026.
- Bridge takes no responsibility for artworks that are lost or damaged during the exhibition.
- The Opening event will take place on Monday 1 June at from 11am. All tenants will be invited to attend.
- See gallery opening hours on the Tenant Art Show webpage
Photography & Publication
By participating, artists grant Bridge Housing the right to photograph and publish their artwork, in full or in part, for promotional purposes.
Questions?
If you have any questions about submissions, the exhibition, or the sales process, please contact Communities on 8324 0800 or community@bridgehousing.org.au.
What is cultural appropriation?
This exhibition has been set up by members of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tenant Advisory Group and is open to all tenants to participate and exhibit their work. It is important to remember that artwork containing fake Aboriginal art and cultural appropriation will not be accepted in the exhibition and will be returned to the artist.
What is fake Aboriginal Art?
Aboriginal art created by a non-Indigenous artist A non-Indigenous artist adopting the style of an Indigenous artist Reproducing an Indigenous artist work without their permission.
What is cultural appropriation?
When a dominant culture takes something from another culture that is experiencing oppression. In this context, it is when a non- Indigenous artist takes an element of Aboriginal art and incorporates it in their work without permission and cultural respect.
Things to avoid for non-Indigenous artists
- Incorporating Aboriginal icons and symbols in art work
- Aboriginal art styles such as dot painting or rarrk (crosshatching) in art works
- Artwork depicting cultural scenes such as hunting or dancing.
Why is this important?
- It misappropriates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and devalues and disrespects cultural meanings
- It denies Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists the opportunity to commercialise their culture in their own ways for the benefit of their community It deceives and misleads buyers.