Winners of the prestigious Bowness Photography Prize presented by the MGA Foundation will be announced next week.

This $30,000 prize was established in 2006 by the Monash Gallery of Art’s Foundation to promote excellence in photography. There are no thematic restrictions on entrants, therefore creating one of the most open and diverse photography awards in the country. Past winners have ranged from emerging to established photographers across all photographic and processes disciplines, using film and digital mediums.

Over 700 entries were received for this year’s prize making up the shortlist – a selection of which will be exhibited at Monash Gallery of Art from October 5th until November 17th. Among the exhibiting artists will be Polly Borland, Sonia Payes, Danie Mellor, David Rosetzky, Justine Varga, Stephen Dupont and Jacqui Stockdale.

On this year’s judging panel is MGA director Anouska Phizacklea, director of Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art Chris Saines, and artist Dr Christian Thompson AO.

In addition to the overall $30,000 winner’s prize, Sotheby’s Australia are again supporting this year’s People’s Choice Award, and have doubled the awarded prize money from $2500 to $5000.

The winner and three Colour Factory honourable mentions of the Bowness Photography Prize will be announced on October 10th. Click here to view all the all the shortlisted works.