Judges had the hard task of selecting just 34 finalists from a field of 185 entries. 

Following a brief hiatus Sydney Living Museums, custodian of Meroogal, relaunched the prize, previously held each year from 1998 until 2011. 

The non-acquisitive art prize was established to celebrate the creativity of female artists throughout NSW. The brief invited female artists to respond to the house museum’s history, stories and fascinating collection and create artworks that reflect Meroogal, a house that was handed down through four generations of women. The three winners will receive prizes valued at $10,000 as well as an artist in residency opportunity at Bundanon Trust for the first prize winner.

Most of the artists are based in the South Coast and Southern Highlands region, 10 are based in the Sydney metropolitan area and four are based in regional NSW, including the Hunter Valley and Blue Mountains area. 

Artworks range from photography, installation, print, ceramics, painting and sound and provide a new lens through which to view Meroogal’s story and history.

The winner will be announced on Saturday. 

The exhibition, which for the first time will be based in and around the historic house, will be open to the public from Tuesday, September 23 until Saturday, October 4 and then every Saturday from Saturday, October 11 until January 24, 2015.

There will be artists’ talks on Tuesday, September 23 and 30 and children’s holiday art workshops, suitable for ages seven and up, on both Thursdays of the School holidays from 10am until 12. 

To book for the art workshops visit www. sydneylivingmuseums.com.au.