Exhibit at the Counihan Gallery
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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.
Apply now for the 2026 Merri-bek Summer Show
Do you live, work, study, or have an arts practice in Merri-bek? Apply now to be part of the 2026 Merri-bek Summer Show and have your work exhibited at the Counihan Gallery.
The exhibition theme for 2026 is Present Tense: 10 Years On.
Marking ten years of the Noel Counihan Commemorative Art Award, this year’s exhibition invites local artists to consider how the past decade has shaped the present moment and what defines the here and now for them.
Responses could reflect on: 
- What has changed for better or worse? 
- What challenges have endured?
- What issues still demand attention?
- What kind of future is being imagined?
The theme is open to interpretation and can be explored through personal and local stories, political ideas, social issues, environmental concerns, everyday experiences and more.
This year's theme is also shared with the Merri-bek Libraries Short Story Competition. Winners of the Noel Counihan Commemorative Art Award, the Climate Activism Award, and the Short Story Competition will be announced at the exhibition opening event on Saturday 5 December.
To apply for the Merri-bek Summer Show, please fill in the Merri-bek Summer Show Application Form on the SnapForms website. SnapForms is an online survey platform. 
For more information on how to apply, including conditions of entry, you can download an application pack. 
The exhibition will be on display from Wednesday 11 November to Thursday 17 December 2026.
Merri-bek Summer Show Awards
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The Counihan Gallery is pleased to present the 10th 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 5 December. 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.
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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 on Friday 18 December.
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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
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Submit your application before Tuesday 22 September 2026, 5pm.
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We will confirm that your application has been accepted from Saturday 10 October 2026.
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If you are accepted into the exhibition, you must deliver your completed work to the Counihan Gallery between 11am and 6pm on Wednesday 28 October or between 11am and 6pm on Thursday 29 October 2026.
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The Merri-bek Summer Show will open on Wednesday 11 November.
The launch event is on Saturday 5 December, from 2pm to 4pm.
The winner of the Noel Counihan Commemorative Art Award and Climate Activism Award will be announced at the event.
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The Merri-bek Summer Show opens on Wednesday 11 November and closes on Thursday 17 December at 5pm.
The Counihan Gallery is open Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm, and Sunday, 1pm to 5pm.
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At the end of the exhibition, you are required to collect your artwork from the Counihan Gallery between 11am and 5pm on Friday 18 December 2026, or between 11am and 5pm on Saturday 19 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.
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Drawings for the children’s gallery will be displayed on the front windows of the Counihan Gallery throughout January 2027. Please note that the Gallery will be closed during this period and the drawings will only be visible from the outside of the building.
2027 Exhibition Applications
Applications are now closed for the Counihan Gallery’s 2027 Exhibition Program.
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.