East Asian Australasian Flyway – about the Competition

Entries Open 8th Feb – 31st May 2026

  • Entries close 31st May 2026 (to give an idea on the number of entries)
  • 31st July digital entries received by Port Stephens Community Arts Centre
  • 10th – 22nd August Judging
  • Announce winner on 13th September 2026 Joe Redman Reserve
  • Banners printed for September 2027

Official Rules: East Asian Australasian Flyway Art Competition

  1. Competition Overview and Theme

The East Asian Australasian Flyway Art Competition celebrates the remarkable annual migration of Shorebirds from East Asia and other regions to the Port Stephens Wetlands. This competition aims to raise awareness of threatened species, the ecological importance of our region, and our Sister City connections.

Core Concept: Local creatives are invited to design artwork suitable for vertical street banners depicting specific migratory Shorebirds. Winning entries will be displayed annually around the Tomaree Peninsula for National Threatened Species Day (7th September).

  1. Eligibility
  • Residency: All competition entrants must reside in the Hunter Region.
  • Originality: All entries must be the original work of the artist and must have been completed within the last two years.
  1. Artwork Specifications & Submission

All artistic media are accepted (Painting, Fabric, Sculpture, Photography, etc.) provided the final work can be submitted and reproduced digitally according to the following specifications:

Requirement Details
Subject Artwork must depict one or more of the target migratory Shorebird species for the Hunter Region. If multiple birds are included, they must remain easily identifiable on a Banner.
Target Species Far-Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Pacific Golden Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Terek Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Great Knot, Red Knot, Ruddy Turnstone, Grey-tailed Tattler, Latham’s Snipe, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Double-banded Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Little Curlew, Wandering Tattler, Asian Dowitcher, Sanderling, Long-toed Stint, Wood Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Ruff.
Format Designs must be suitable for vertical street banners (Portrait orientation) to fit on light poles.
Banner Sizes Nelson Bay (Apex Park and Yacaaba Street): 900mm x 2,500mm. Raymond Terrace: 800mm x 2,500mm. Your design must be scalable to these proportions.
Submission Entries must be submitted electronically as a print-quality JPG file.
Digital Quality Resolution: Approximately 300 dpi (dots per inch). Minimum File Size:  5MB.
Submission Email Entries must be submitted to: admin@pscac.org.au by 31st July.
Entry Limit Artists may enter more than one entry, provided that each entry depicts a different subject. An entry form for each submission must be completed by 31st May 2026.
Click here for Entry Form
  1. Conditions of Entry

By submitting an entry, the artist agrees to the following conditions:

  • Copyright and Usage:  Artists may use a variety of images available from the internet provided their work is not a direct copy of any single image. Copyright remains with the Artist. However, the Artist grants Port Stephens Council the non-exclusive right to reproduce any work entered for printing on Banners, which can be reused yearly to celebrate National Threatened Species Day.
  • Marketing Waiver: The Artist grants Port Stephens Council the right to use the image of any entry for future marketing, publicity purposes (including in the press, on TV, or online), or in the compilation of a photo book featuring all entries.
  • Sales Restrictions: No artworks entered in the competition may be sold until after the winners are officially announced.
  • Winning Entries: Winning paintings/artworks may need to be provided to the sponsor if the sponsor chooses to acquire the original piece (with the option for the sponsor to choose a Banner instead). If a sponsor does not wish to acquire the original piece after the winners are announced, the Artist may sell their work, but Port Stephens Council retains the right to print the image on Banners for yearly display.
  • Final Decision: The decisions of the judges shall be final, and no discussion, appeal, or correspondence will be entered into regarding judging or eligibility decisions. Organisers reserve the right to declare any work ineligible if it does not conform to these Conditions of Entry.

  1. Bank Details will be requested if the entrant makes the short list

  2. Entries must be submitted from the email address on the entry form. The email should contain the name of the work. The Shorebird name as well as the Artists name

  3.  Winning Banner Usage 2027 onwards: 5 winning banner designs will be professionally produced as street banners and displayed on light poles in designated locations. Each location will display all 5 banners (Salamander Way near Wetlands of Port Stephens, Old Salamander shops, Nelson Bay Apex Park, Birubi Beach). Banners will be displayed annually around National Threatened Species Day (September 7th).
Click here for Entry Form