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USU Creative Awards


Open to all students at the University of Sydney, the USU Creative Awards is the largest cross-disciplinary art prize in the Australian university sector, highlighting the very best of the creative arts from our student body.

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Creative Awards predate the current USU itself, with the Men's Union and Women's Union running creative competitions before the amalgamation in 1972. Since 1972, USU has consistently held student competitions for works of art, photography and literature. In 2008, these competitions were combined into one awards program with the addition of a music category, creating the PALM (Photo, Art, Literature and Music) Awards. The PALM Awards would become the Verge Awards in 2012, then finally the Creative Awards in 2017.

The 2026 USU Creative Awards are divided into the categories of Art, Music, Word and Short Film with each category awarding the following prize amounts:
 


1st Prize: $2000
2nd Prize: $1500
People’s Choice: $500

The shortlisted works in each category will be exhibited at Verge Gallery from 25 August - 25 September 2026.

Entries close on Monday 15 June 2026.

Terms and conditions of entry

Apply now

Past USU Creative Awards Exhibitions


Explore past USU Creative Award exhibitions and winners below.

2025 exhibition ↗
2024 exhibition, curated by Beatrice Waller ↗
2023 exhibition, curated by Lucy Brosnan ↗
2022 exhibition, curated by Anneka Scholtz ↗
2021 exhibition, curated by Emily Roebuck ↗

USU acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose stolen land which we operate, gather as employees and live. We recognise this land was never terra nullius — the land belonging to these peoples was never ceded, given up, bought or sold. We pay our respects to Aboriginal Elders past, present and emerging, and we extend this acknowledgement to any other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Transition to USU Ltd
From 1 April 2026, USyd Student Union Ltd (ABN 52 688 637 818) became the organisation running the services, programs and activities previously operated by the University of Sydney Union (ABN 73 818 179 759). As part of the transition, existing USU membership benefits will continue to be recognised until 30 June 2026 in line with the transition arrangements. USU Rewards benefits will continue only for members who join USU Ltd. Membership of USU Ltd is separate and only takes effect in accordance with the USU Ltd constitution.

© 2026 USU