About the awards
We invite photographers of all ages to tune in to the urban landscape of the Inner West: its built environment, its streets, its structures, and its stories.
The Inner West is rich in heritage and full of character, shaped by generations of community life. All this time, it has continuously seen change.
Held in conjunction with the 2026 National Trust theme for the Australian Heritage Festival, this year’s theme is:
Change
What has changed – and what hasn’t?
Look closely. Be curious. Show us what you’ve discovered.
A word from the judges
- Theme: Change
- Location: The Inner West local government area
Change is everywhere in the Inner West – if you know how to look.
The judges are looking for photographs that show us something we might have walked past a hundred times but never truly seen. You don’t need the most expensive camera. You need a curious eye, a little research, and the courage to look again at something familiar.
We are especially drawn to photographs that reveal layers of history most people walk straight past. Beyond subject matter, the judges will be looking for evidence of considered photographic technique – whether that’s a thoughtful composition, a confident use of light, a strong architectural perspective, or any creative approach that demonstrates the photographer has engaged with their craft.
Get out into the Inner West. Explore the streets, the back lanes, the forgotten corners. The best photographs won’t come from the obvious places.
The Inner West is always speaking. This is your chance to listen – and tell the story in a single photograph.
Explore. Question. Reveal.
Entry criteria
- Photos must be taken within the Inner West Council area.
- The entry form must be completed and submitted with each image.
- Subject matter must feature or comment (at least in part) on heritage built fabric, and broadly fit the theme change.
- Submitted photographs must meet the technical requirements on the photo entry page.
- The submission must be the sole work of the named photographer.
- A maximum of 3 images may be submitted per photographer. Additional photographs will not be judged.
- Entries open 19 April 2026 and close Sunday 26 July 2026 at 11:59pm.
Prizes
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| General | $1,000 |
| High school | $150 |
| Primary school | $50 |
A winning student’s school may also receive the opportunity to participate in a workshop with a professional photographer.
The winner will be announced at the awards presentation in October 2026. Finalists’ work will be exhibited at the event, in an online exhibition on the Council website, and at Council’s library following the awards.
Photo submission requirements
- Maximum of 3 photographs submitted per photographer. Additional photographs will not be judged.
- File name format: FirstinitialLastname_Title (e.g. JCitizen_Untitled). Must be under 30 characters.
- File specs: JPEG format, 300dpi, 4MB to 10MB.
- Files must be received as per these specifications or they will not be judged.
Judges
A judging panel of two or more people may include:
- A photographic teacher or curator
- Council’s Cultural, Urban Design, History Services Officer or Heritage Specialist
- A commercial photographer, or head of photography, and/or
- other relevant industry professional.
Conditions
Inner West Council reserves the right to:
- Not accept entries whose content does not meet the entry criteria.
- Retain, reproduce, and publish entries, including images, for future permanent exhibition, archival, and promotional purposes, ensuring credit to the photographer.
- Clearance for public promotion of the photographer’s name and submitted work.
- Image usage rights will be given to Inner West Council. Photographs may be used in promotion of various Council initiatives (print and digital).