The Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award (JADA) is one of Australia’s most prestigious regional drawing prizes, hosted biennially by the Grafton Regional Gallery in New South Wales. It celebrates excellence and innovation in drawing practice and attracts artists from across the country. Each edition of JADA awards significant prize money and sees winning works added to the Gallery’s permanent collection, creating an evolving archive of contemporary drawing. Let’s explore recent winners, award history, judging criteria, and what makes the prize so significant in Australia’s art scene.
Overview of the Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award
Origins and Purpose
Established in 1988, JADA aims to shine a spotlight on drawing as a vital and evolving artistic medium. As an acquisitive prize, all winning works and early-career awards enter the Grafton Regional Gallery’s permanent collection, ensuring lasting public access. The award’s name references the locally abundant jacaranda trees, creating a strong regional identity.
Prize Structure
- Major Acquisition Prize: AUD $35,000
- Early Career Award: AUD $5,000
- Gallery acquires winning works permanently
The award supports both established and emerging artists, offering a platform and financial backing to promote drawing as a contemporary discipline.
2024 Award Winners
Laith McGregor Major Acquisition Prize
Northern Riversbased artist Laith McGregor won the 2024 JADA with his sculptural charcoal drawing titledUntitled (support). McGregor’s work fuses portraiture and abstraction, using dramatic mark-making to evoke emotional resonance. Charcoal layers create depth and atmosphere, signaling a dynamic evolution of the drawing form.
Nix Francia Early Career Award
The Early Career Award went to emerging Sydney artist Nix Francia forLove at midnight: blood edition. Francia’s work explores intimacy and the mundane through textured surfaces, incorporating bodily materials and light to create personal narratives.
Finalists and Exhibitors
In 2024, 65 artists exhibited, including 14 from Northern Rivers and Clarence Valley. Finalists John Bokor and Harrie Fasher gained recognition for innovative approaches Bokor for charcoal, wash, and collage inLooking South, Fasher for his mixed-media, sculptural framed drawings using unusual materials.
Notable Past Winners
Michael Zavros (2002)
A revered Australian artist, Michael Zavros won JADA in 2002. His fine, polished drawings reveal an obsession with detail and mastery of technique. Zavros went on to win other national accolades, including the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize.
Amanda Robins (circa 20022004)
Artist Amanda Robins was recognized in early 2000s for her thoughtful interpretations of interior spaces. Her drawings, featured in JADA catalogues, reflect meticulous observation and emotional nuance.
Catherine O’Donnell (2022)
In 2022, Catherine O’Donnell won withGlenbrook Window #1, a delicate charcoal work exploring suburban interiors. Juxtaposing reality and illusion with curtain details inviting reflection her piece underscores drawing’s power in capturing quiet moments.
What Sets JADA Apart?
Emphasis on Drawing
JADA uniquely celebrates drawing in its many forms from traditional charcoal and graphite to mixed media, installation-based drawing, and experimental approaches. This diversity affirms drawing’s status as a vital contemporary practice.
Acquisitive Nature
By purchasing winners’ works, Grafton Regional Gallery builds a permanent collection, ensuring that each piece remains accessible to the public and continues contributing to the cultural record.
Regional Focus
By staging the award in regional NSW, JADA amplifies the reach of contemporary drawing outside metropolitan centers. It encourages local artists to participate and draws attention to regional creative communities.
Distinguished Judging
Each year, respected art professionals lead the jury. In 2024, Michelle Newton Deputy Director at Artspace, Sydney praised the experimental and emotional quality of winning works.
The Impact on Australian Artists
Career Springboard
Winning JADA often elevates artists’ profiles, leading to exhibition opportunities, gallery representation, and participation in other major awards. Michael Zavros’s career trajectory post-JADA illustrates this impact.
Encouragement of Experimentation
The award’s openness to diverse materials and formats encourages artists to innovate to see drawing not just as two-dimensional mark-making but as spatial, textural, and conceptual exploration.
Community and Exposure
Artists exhibit alongside peers from across Australia, gaining exposure to collectors, gallery directors, and critics. Regional communities benefit too, drawing art lovers and fostering dialogue about contemporary practice.
Looking Ahead: JADA’s Future Direction
Strengthening Regional Arts
Grafton Regional Gallery aims to continue supporting local artists and developing creative infrastructure. With each edition, JADA reinforces regional engagement, education, and creative exchange.
Expanding Interpretations of Drawing
Judges increasingly accept conceptual and cross-disciplinary work. This evolution ensures the award stays relevant as drawing spreads into installation, digital forms, and performative contexts.
Enhanced Audience Access
Digitizing past collection works, publishing catalogues, and touring exhibitions nationally could broaden JADA’s impact. Highlighting finalists and winners online keeps conversations alive year-round.
The Jacaranda Acquisitive Drawing Award has become a cornerstone of Australia’s drawing landscape. From early winners like Zavros and Robins to recent innovators like McGregor and Francia, JADA marks exceptional practices and preserves them for future audiences. With substantial acquisitive prizes, regional focus, and encouragement of experimentation, the award supports artists while promoting drawing as a dynamic, contemporary medium. As it evolves, JADA will likely continue shaping contemporary Australian art, nurturing talent, and expanding our understanding of what drawing can be.