2026 AAANZ PhD Prize (Practice-led)

About this program

The Art Association of Australia and New Zealand (AAANZ), with support from Taylor & Francis, is offering the 2026 AAANZ PhD Prize (practice-led), a $1,000 award for recently completed practice-led PhD theses in art history, contemporary art/visual cultures, art curatorship, or practice-based visual arts research. Applicants must be current AAANZ members and have been awarded a practice-led PhD by an Australian or New Zealand institution between July 2024 and 26 September 2026. Submissions via the AAANZ entry form must include name and PhD details, confirmation the PhD was practice-led, the thesis/exegesis abstract (as in the final thesis), a statement of significance addressing judging criteria and impact, examiner reports, and a CV; three shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide digital copies of the full thesis/exegesis and documentation of any practice/exhibition. Entries are judged on research contribution to art history/visual culture, potential for publication and wider impact, conceptual originality, presentation and communication, and methodological rigour, with the winner announced at the AAANZ conference in December 2026 (enquiries: admin@aaanz.info).