Wild HeART Student Art Prize

The Wild HeART Student Art Prize invites children and young people to creatively express their love of nature and celebrate native species.  

Returning in 2025, it's time to go wild - again!  

Entries are now open for 5 to 18 year olds from the Sunshine Coast and neighbouring local Council areas, closing on 5th October. 

This annual competition encourages entrants to explore local environments, observe native Australian plants, animals or fungi and create an original artwork.  Whether it’s a delicate wildflower, a timid shorebird, a cryptic skink or peculiar fungus – nature’s inspiration is endless.

Finalists across three age categories will be exhibited in a larger-than-life outdoor gallery trail at Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden and have the chance to win a prize (details to be announced).

Please read the Conditions of Entry for details and use the Entry Form link below to submit your artwork. The form is for single entries only. For teachers needing to submit bulk entries, please contact the Environmental Visitor Centres. 

Key dates in 2025

Entries open	5th July	Conditions of Entry and Entry Form
Entries close	5th October	12pm (midnight)
Finalists' announced	31st November	Entrants will be contacted directly
Finalists' exhibition	5th December	Launch date to be announced

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Previously

Established in 2022, the Wild HeART Student Art Prize was borne as a community partnership initiative between the Sunshine Coast Council, Queensland Wildlife Artists Society Inc., Friends of Maroochy Bushland Botanic Garden and the Friends of Mary Cairncross Association. Previously, the finalists have been publicly showcased in an exhibition inside the Arts and Ecology Centre.  In 2024 however, Wild HeART finalists were celebrated in an outdoor gallery trail throughout the summer holidays. It was larger-than-life and made possible through support from Sunshine Coast Libraries and the Queensland State Government's First 5 Forever Program. Visitors could explore and view children's incredible and vivid artworks and read their statements about native wildlife, plants and places - from Bokarina to Bribie Island, Sunrise Beach to Mt Ninderry, Aroona to Amamoor, Maleny to Yandina and beyond.