IMAGinE Awards
The 2025 IMAGinE Awards are now open for nominations
The IMAGinE Awards celebrate the resilience, innovation, and creativity of museums, galleries and Aboriginal cultural centres across New South Wales. These awards recognise the people and projects making a difference in communities large and small, through outstanding exhibitions, public programs, partnerships, and collections care.
Whether you’re a small volunteer-run museum, a regional gallery, or an Aboriginal cultural centre, the IMAGinE Awards provide an opportunity to share your achievements and be recognised by your peers across the sector.
We encourage organisations of all sizes to nominate and showcase the incredible work being done across the state. Let’s honour the people behind the scenes, the programs that inspire, and the places that connect communities through culture and history.
Award Categories include:
- Exhibition Projects
- Engagement Projects
- Volunteer Achievement Award
- Accessible Arts Award for Access and Inclusion
- ACHAA Award for Excellence by an Aboriginal Curator
Nominations close 15 September 2025
IMAGinE Awards night
The awards presentation night will take place at The Refectory, Holme Building, University of Sydney, Co-hosted by Verge Gallery, on Wednesday, 26th Nov 2025.
Book Online
Download – 2025 IMAGinE Awards Guidelines
Categories for 2025
Exhibition Projects, Engagement Projects, Accessible Arts Award for Access and Inclusion
Nominations for the Accessible Arts Award can be submitted through the Exhibition Project and Engagement Programs form.
The Volunteer Achievement Award
Regional Stakeholder Forum
This free annual forum is an opportunity for staff and volunteers from regional and Western Sydney museums and galleries to network, share stories and be inspired by current topics relevant to the regional sector.
Ten bursaries of up to $500 will be offered by Powerhouse to support travel costs for attendees from regional NSW. Full program and application details will be announced in August.
The Regional Stakeholder Forum is held by Powerhouse in partnership with Museums & Galleries of NSW and Regional Arts NSW.
Sign up to be notified once the full program and bursary applications are announced.
Thursday 27 November – FREE
For more information about the IMAGinE Awards, contact Dale Maxwell-Smith, Training & Engagement Manager
Email: dalem@mgnsw.org.au
The IMAGinE Awards are an initiative of Museums & Galleries of NSW, developed with support from the Australian Museums and Galleries Association NSW and Regional and Public Galleries of NSW.
The 2025 IMAGinE Awards are made possible through the generous support of our sponsors, including International Conservation Services as the Major Sponsor of the Awards. This year, we welcome Verge Gallery, University of Sydney, as our venue partner.
