Exhibit at the Counihan Gallery

Artists and curators can apply for an exhibition at the Counihan Gallery or to exhibit in the annual Merri-bek Summer Show.  

Please email CounihanGallery@merri-bek.vic.gov.au or call 9389 8622 if you have questions about our application processes.

2027 Exhibition Applications 

Applications are now open for Season 1 and Season 2 of the Counihan Gallery’s 2027 Exhibition Program:

• Season 1: Feb to May 2027
• Season 2: May to Aug 2027 

Applications can be submitted by solo artists, collaborators, groups of artists, and curators.

Applicants can request an exhibition in the Front, Middle, or Rear Galleries.

In 2027, the Gallery will offer a $1,500 honorarium to exhibitors. This honorarium is paid per exhibition space, not per artist.

The Gallery encourages applications from artists who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTQIA plus, d/Deaf and/or Disabled, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

A separate Expression of Interest process will open in 2027 for the Winter Night Screen.

How to apply

To apply for an exhibition, you must complete the Exhibition Application Form on the SnapForms website. SnapForms is an online survey platform. It is free to apply.

Before completing the application form, please download and read the information provided in the Counihan Gallery Exhibition Application Pack:

• Counihan Gallery  Exhibition Application Pack for 2027  (PDF 1Mb)

Applications close at 5pm, Friday 12 June 2026. Submissions received after closing time will not be considered.

Further information

We will be holding an online Information Session on Wednesday 20 May from 6pm to 7.30pm, when you can learn more about the exhibition program and application process.

Bookings are required and can be made here.

Apply to exhibit in the Merri-bek Summer Show

Applications for the 2026 Merri-bek Summer Show will open in September.

The Merri-bek Summer Show is an annual exhibition held at the Counihan Gallery. Each year, local artists are invited to submit an artwork that explores a chosen theme.

To enter the Merri-bek Summer Show you must be 18 years old at the time of entry. However, this year we are excited to introduce a children’s gallery and activity station alongside the exhibition. Young people can respond to the theme by creating postcard-sized drawings, which will be exhibited on the front windows of the Counihan Gallery throughout January. The activity station will be available in the Gallery during the exhibition and the completed drawings will be installed in the windows once the exhibition has closed!

Merri-bek Summer Show Awards

• Noel Counihan Commemorative Art Award

  The Counihan Gallery is pleased to present the 9th Noel Counihan Commemorative Art Award.

  The Award celebrates an artist whose work explores the exhibition theme and engages with social, political, or environmental ideas. All exhibitors in the Merri-bek Summer Show are eligible for the Award.

  The Award recipient will receive $4000 and will be announced at the exhibition opening event on Saturday 8 November. This prize is generously sponsored by Merri-bek City Council. The Award is non-acquisitive.

  The Award is judged by Counihan Gallery staff, a member of the Merri-bek Arts Advisory Committee and an independent arts professional. The decision of the judges is final.

   

• People's Choice Award

  The People's Choice Award is a cash prize of $1000 and is proudly supported by the Sydney Road Brunswick Association.

  The Award is voted by visitors to the Merri-bek Summer Show and the recipient is announced at the end of the exhibition.

• Climate Activism Award

  This award celebrates an artist whose work engages with climate justice ideas. The prize is a $500 CERES voucher.

Merri-bek Summer Show important dates

• When do I need to apply by?

  Submit your application before Saturday 27 September 2025, 5pm.

   

• When will I hear if my application has been accepted?

  We will confirm that your application has been accepted from 15 October 2025.

• When do I need to deliver my artwork?

  If you are accepted into the exhibition, you must deliver your completed work to the Counihan Gallery between 11am and 6pm on Wednesday 29 October or between 11am and 6pm on Thursday 30 October 2025.

• When is the exhibition launch?

  The Merri-bek Summer Show launch is on Saturday 8 November, from 2pm to 4pm.

  The winner of the Noel Counihan Commemorative Art Award will be announced at the event.

• What are the exhibition dates?

  The Merri-bek Summer Show opens on Saturday 8 November at 2pm and closes on Thursday 18 December 2025 at 5pm.

  The Counihan Gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm, and Sunday, 1pm to 5pm.

• When do I need to pick up my artwork?

  At the end of the exhibition, you are required to collect your artwork from the Counihan Gallery between 11am and 5pm on Friday 19 December 2025, or between 11am and 5pm on Saturday 20 December.  

  If you are unable to collect your work on these days, please arrange for someone to collect your work on your behalf. Works cannot be stored at the Gallery during the summer closure period.

• When will drawings for the children’s gallery be on display?

  Drawings for the children’s gallery will be displayed on the front windows of the Counihan Gallery throughout January 2026. Please note that the Gallery will be closed during this period and the drawings will only be visible from the outside of the building.

View Gallery 1 and 2 in the Counihan Virtual Gallery

It's not always easy to remember the layout of our gallery from home or the studio. Now you can explore Gallery 1 and 2 in 3D on the Counihan Virtual Gallery online platform.

You can also add your artworks to the space to see how they will look using online modelling platform SketchUp. You can access this online modelling platform on the SketchUp website. You will need to create a free SketchUp account to get started and download our SketchUp file (SKP 12.6MB) from the DropBox website.