Museums Victoria Gold Jewellery Acquisitive Prize Terms and Conditions

The following terms and conditions apply to all entries and their creators (Applicants) to the Museums Victoria Gold Jewellery Acquisitive Prize, which is an acquisitive prize. Unless agreed to in writing between the Applicant and Museums Victoria, any Applicant who does not meet the below criteria will be ineligible to be considered for the Victorian Gold Jewellery Acquisitive Prize.

1) Eligibility

1. Eligibility for entry into the categories is set out below in these terms and conditions.
2. All Applicants must be 18 years of age or older or must be turning 18 before 31 August 2025.
3. All Applicants must be Australian Citizens or hold Permanent Residence status at the time of entry and must live predominantly in Australia.
4. The Museums Victoria Gold Jewellery Acquisitive Prize consists of the following categories:
  1. Major Prize; and
  2. First Peoples Prize; and
  3. Emerging Prize.
5. Subject to eligibility for entry to the categories, an Applicant may enter as many categories as they are eligible for. The same entry or a different entry may be entered into the categories the Applicant is eligible for.
6. Winners and finalists in each category may be provided opportunities for internal and external media during the making process. While participation in organised media is encouraged, it is not mandatory.
7. Winners and finalists will be publicly announced on the Museums Victoria Website on 16 October 2025 and informed of their status on 2 October 2025. Unsuccessful applicants will be advised of their application status via email on or before 1 October 2025.

2) Submission details

1. The Museums Victoria Gold Jewellery Acquisitive Prize will open to entries on 12 May 2025 and will close at 5pm (AEST) on 31 August 2025. Applicants who submit an entry after this date may not be considered by Museums Victoria.
2. Applicants must submit their entry via email to [email protected].
3. Entries must include the following elements:
  1. a visual representation of the design which communicates the final concept design clearly, including details of sizing and materials. The visual representation may be a sketch, image or other plan but must demonstrate the entry’s proposed form and visual appearance;
  2. a written statement of up to 400 words which describes the concept, techniques and materials to be used, as well as how the work responds to the State of Victoria Gold Jewellery Collection;
  3. a written statement of up to 400 words which sets out a fabrication plan for the work, including how the Applicant plans to make the work and if the Applicant will sub-contract any part of the production process to a professional maker or jeweller, including details of this; and;
  4. a copy of the Applicant’s current resume

3) Concept Design

1. The entry must be an original design by the Applicant and must not contain any pre-existing intellectual property by any other person other than the Applicant.
2. In submitting an entry, the Applicant warrants that they have not infringed the intellectual property rights of any third party and that the entry submitted is absolutely and entirely their own work and is an original design.
3. Should the Applicant be chosen as the winner of any of the Museums Victoria Gold Jewellery Acquisitive Prize categories, as part of an Artist Commission Agreement, Museums Victoria will be granted an intellectual property licence in respect of a winning design.
4. The creator will retain ownership of the copyright subsisting in any entry submitted.
5. Museums Victoria will acquire any part of the winning designs into the State Collection, including the concept design, any production designs and any jewellery pieces developed or produced after being deemed the winning entry by Museums Victoria subject to its usual acquisition procedures and policies.
6. Delivery timeframe of the completed creation to Museums Victoria will be agreed by the Applicant and Museums Victoria but will be no later than Friday 27 February 2026.
7. Determination of the winners of the respective prizes will be at the sole discretion of Museums Victoria.
8. Museums Victoria may at any time choose to deaccession any Commissioned Work developed and acquired into the State Collection by merit of any of the Museums Victoria Gold Jewellery Acquisitive Prizes offered by way of its usual deaccession processes as mandated by statute at its sole discretion.

4) Major Prize special conditions

1. All Applicants to the Major Prize must meet the following criteria:
  1. identify as a professional jeweller, artist or maker;
  2. have five or more years of experience working as a professional in their chosen field, including undertaking paid commissions;
  3. the Commissioned Work and concept design must be available for acquisition by Museums Victoria in exchange for the prize amount of $20,000, which is inclusive of the cost of materials, labour and all other associated expenses.

5) First Peoples Prize special conditions

1. All Applicants to the First Peoples Prize must meet the following criteria:
  1. identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander;
  2. are currently working toward, or aspire to be a professional jeweller, artist or maker; and
  3. the Commissioned Work and concept design must be available for acquisition by Museums Victoria in exchange for the prize amount of $15,000, which is inclusive of the cost of materials, labour and all other associated expenses.

6) Emerging Prize special conditions

1. All Applicants to the Emerging Prize must meet the following criteria:
  1. are currently working toward, or aspire to be a professional jeweller, artist or maker;
  2. have five or less years of experience working as a professional in your chosen field, including but not limited to undertaking paid and unpaid commissions;
  3. The Commissioned Work and concept design must be available for acquisition by Museums Victoria in exchange for the prize amount of $8,000, which is inclusive of the cost of materials, labour and all other associated expenses.