Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize


The Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize is an annual competition for artists, with a science theme. It is organised by the South Australian Museum and is Australia's richest prize for natural history art with a prize pool of more than $110,000.
It was established in 2002 and named after Frederick George Waterhouse, who was the first curator of the Museum. He discovered 40 new species of fish along the SA coastline, collected plants, insects, reptiles, birds and mammals and was an avid naturalist. The competition changed its name to "Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize" in 2013.
There are three categories:
There is one overall award: the Waterhouse Art Prize
There is one Peoples Choice and the Dr Wendy Wickes Memoriam Prize.
There is also an award for each of the category winners of $12,000. There are size weight limitations for submitted works.
In 2013 the overall prize winner was Lynton artist, Judith Brown, for a cape made of leaves and bulb casings, entitled Flight of Fancy.
The competition was not held in 2015 due to a consultative review on the nature of the competition, but was held again in 2016.

Waterhouse Art Prize winners

The Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize receives sponsorship from public and private sectors. The prize is also supported by private donations.
In 2014, Gala launch principal sponsors were Beach Energy and the Government of South Australia. Exhibition prize sponsors were legal firm Fisher Jeffries, printer Finsbury Green and the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.
Private donations in support of the prize include: