WINNER: David Thompson, Royal Historical Society of Victoria
Judges’ comments: For over 25 years, David has brought an engineer's eye and a quiet generosity to his volunteer work with the Royal Historical Society of Victoria. He’s an outstanding and invaluable volunteer.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Bernadette Dennis OAM, The Johnston Collection

WINNER: Andrew Hiskens
Judges’ comments: Andrew is highly respected across the sector for his intellect, his generosity, and his belief in what GLAM institutions can do for communities. It is a privilege to recognise his contributions tonight and thank him for all that he has given to our sector over 40 years of service.

WINNER: Peter Haby
Judges’ comments: Peter's leadership of the Hawks Museum has left an indelible mark on the community, and he should be recognised not only for the breadth and tenure of his work, but the impact of his contributions.

WINNER: Wonthaggi and District Historical Society for 15 Minutes of History
Judges’ comments: Wonthaggi and District Historical Society achieved significant outcomes with very limited resources. Their creativity, passion and commitment shone through the nomination, making them a worthy winner of this category.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Museum of Future Water / Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre for The Museum of Future Water
Judges’ comments: This was a bold project, to tackle such important and potentially divisive issues affecting the community and generate positive outcomes. The creative ways of generating involvement from the community shows how an exhibition can belong to the community that created it.

WINNER: National Trust of Australia (Victoria) / Heritage Victoria for Traces of Girlhood
Judges’ comments: The judges celebrated the filling of historical voids through close collaboration and the platforming of other voices. Accomplished on a limited budget, this project has genuine heart. Its creative use of 'mundane' objects brings significant artefacts into context and honours lives with care and respect. The donation of the artworks represents lasting impact for the Dja Dja Wurrung community — a meaningful demonstration of genuine engagement and enduring legacy.

WINNER: Wangaratta Art Gallery for Overland Matthew Harris
Judges’ comments: Presented in his hometown, Matthew Harris’s first solo exhibition challenged prevailing historical narratives and marked the first time artworks addressing the Oxley Plains massacre – located just kilometres from Wangaratta – were shown locally. The judges commended the project’s sensitive approach, including accessible programming for children and young people that supported broad community engagement. They applauded such an ambitious and brave undertaking.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Counihan Gallery (Merri-bek City Council) for Marvellous Mythical Mates: A Menagerie of Dream Pets
Judges’ comments:This is an excellent community-embedded project with engagement and accessibility front of mind. The choice of an established and successful contemporary artist, Vipoo Srivilasa, to lead the creative development was impressive and delivered an excellent outcome. Great to see the collaboration with the library, strong communications, and great audience response.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: State Library Victoria for Searching for Sanctuary: A journey of survival by Barat Ali Batoor
Judges’ comments:An extraordinary testament to the asylum seeker journey by double Walkley Award winning photographer Barat Ali Batoor.  The judges recognised the project's innovative commitment to community engagement, singling out the translation of text panels as an effective and meaningful step towards engaging non-English speaking audiences.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Torch for Future Dreaming
Judges’ comments: This nomination stood out for its engagement of the artists in all aspects of the project, from making work to employment opportunities in other areas of the gallery. Really appreciate the collaboration with a video producer to increase the works' individual impact and amplify artists' stories. The sales outcomes are also impressive, demonstrating strong market engagement alongside meaningful artist development.

WINNER: Shrine of Remembrance for Taste of Combat: The Evolution of Military Food
Judges’ comments: This project revealed refreshingly new aspects of military service in particular the contribution of the catering corps with its emphasis on nutrition, food technology and research. These less explored narratives were presented in a variety of formats which were relatable and experiential with the act of eating taking place at the Shrine alongside the exhibition. Beautifully presented the exhibition connected intangible and tangible aspects of military service experience and provided audiences with a glimpse of contemporary military life.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: City of Greater Dandenong for HOME25
Judges’ comments: The judges were impressed by the idea of holding the exhibitions in different locations within the community, including non-traditional exhibition spaces. The project promotes the City of Greater Dandenong as a welcoming and inclusive place which supports personal and cultural expression’.

WINNER: Art Gallery of Ballarat for Medieval to Metal: The Art and Evolution of the Guitar
Judges’ comments: This is an incredible project, evidencing strategic and innovative approaches to exhibition programming. Well-constructed and successfully deployed, Medieval to Metal used interactive and multisensory elements effectively, achieving strong economic returns, significant media coverage, and a broad audience reach that is well aligned to Ballarat's local culture, community, and music identity.

WINNER: Museum of Australian Photography for The basement: photography from Prahran College (1968-81)
Judges’ comments: This project stands out for its strong research-driven approach, presenting important curatorial insights into a formative movement in Australia’s – and specifically Victoria’s – photographic history. Closely aligned with the museum’s mission, it offers both a compelling local story for audiences and a valuable resource for practitioners and researchers. The acquisition of 280+ works fills a significant institutional gap, ensuring lasting impact for current and future generations.

WINNER: Potter Museum of Art, The University of Melbourne for 65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art
Judges’ comments: This exhibition unites an extraordinary range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks, highlighting the enduring depth, creativity, and resilience of First Peoples’ cultural expression. By weaving together historical pieces, contemporary practice, and Indigenous-led insights, the exhibition offers a contemplative and immersive experience, inviting audiences to connect with Australia’s past and present in a meaningful and resonant way.

WINNER: State Library Victoria for Make Believe: Encounters with Misinformation
Judges’ comments: Awarded for its thoughtful and engaging approach, this project explores misinformation as both a cultural and cognitive phenomenon, bringing together historical material, contemporary practice, and interactive elements to consider how belief is formed. Rather than positioning audiences as passive recipients of truth, the exhibition encourages gentle critical reflection, revealing the emotional and psychological dimensions of knowledge in a way that feels both accessible and highly relevant.

WINNER: Koorie Heritage Trust for Connie Hart: One Stitch at a Time
Judges’ comments: An exceptional exhibition and nomination that strongly speaks to the importance of Victorian Aboriginal art and cultural histories. This exhibition not only showcases the beauty and technique of this incredible craft, but tells a powerful story of cultural resilience through honouring knowledge holders and an Elder who retained cultural practices in a time where those practices were forcibly removed. The commissioning of new work has important impact, directly speaking to the conceptual underpinnings of weaving regeneration and cultural continuum and the vital role Aunty Connie played in this legacy.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Blak Dot Gallery for EXCHANGE
Judges’ comments: A beautiful and important exhibition that challenges systems through creative expression, truth telling, and cultural authority. Each artist addresses very different but equally important issues and experiences of First Nations persons and communities. The innovative approach to exhibition development analyses western systems, reframing the conceptual underpinning of 'exchange' to the Indigenous methodology of relationality—working to reframe curatorial practice itself. There is a strong demonstrated impact for emerging writers and artists, with impressive reach for local communities through an independent gallery.

Birchip Museum - The Year of 1969 and Birchip Connections
Castlemaine Art Museum - Framed
Museum of Future Water / Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre - The Museum of Future Water
Sephardi Association of VIC Inc - Sephardi Heritage Museum of Australia
Wonthaggi and District Historical Society - 15 Minutes of History

Melbourne Holocaust Museum - Zachor: Ask a Survivor
National Trust of Australia (Victoria) / Heritage Victoria - Traces of Girlhood
Portland Maritime Museum (Glenelg Shire Council) - Nyamat Mirring Gallery
State Library Victoria - Mouthful of Dust
Yarra Ranges Regional Museum - Badass Women of the Yarra Ranges: She Shapes History x Yarra Ranges Regional Museum

Counihan Gallery (Merri-bek City Council) - Marvellous Mythical Mates: A Menagerie of Dream Pets
Kingston Arts (City of Kingston) - Generations: connections to Country
Public Record Office Victoria / Victorian Archives Centre - Rewind Forward Exhibition
State Library Victoria - Searching for Sanctuary: A journey of survival by Barat Ali Batoor
The Torch - Future Dreaming
Wangaratta Art Gallery - Overland Matthew Harris

City of Greater Dandenong - HOME25
Hellenic Museum - Rituals: Gifts for the Gods
National Communication Museum - FRIEND - Holy objects, intimate machines and artificial companions
Shrine of Remembrance - Taste of Combat: The Evolution of Military Food

Art Gallery of Ballarat - Medieval to Metal: The Art and Evolution of the Guitar
Heide Museum of Modern Art - Molto Bello: Icons of Modern Italian Design
Museum of Australian Photography - The basement: photography from Prahran College (1968-81)
State Library Victoria - Melbourne Out Loud: Life through the Lens of Rennie Ellis

ACMI - Game Worlds
Art Gallery of Swan Hill - Redevelopment of Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery
Bendigo Art Gallery - Frida Kahlo: In her own image
Islamic Museum of Australia - Faith Gallery
State Library Victoria - Make Believe: Encounters with Misinformation
The University of Melbourne - 65,000 Years: A Short History of Australian Art

Australian Centre for Contemporary Art - Tennant Creek Brio: Juparnta Ngattu Minjinypa Iconocrisis
Berninneit - Yawa (Long Journey)
Blak Dot Gallery - EXCHANGE
Cardinia Shire Council / Marra Marra Gallery - Marra Marra: Our Countries Song
Koorie Heritage Trust - Connie Hart: One Stitch at a Time
Monash University Museum of Art - Awakening Histories
Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery - Unfolding: First Nations Works on Paper
The Torch / Heide Museum of Modern Art - Blak In-Justice: Incarceration and Resilience
Victorian Indigenous Research Centre, State Library Victoria - Treaty
Warrnambool Art Gallery - Kait James: Red Flags