MAMA Art Foundation

The MAMA Art Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation committed to supporting the Museum as an important cultural resource for the Murray region. The financial support provided by the Foundation supports the growth of the MAMA Collection, enriches the culture of our city and region, builds the resilience of the Museum and enhances MAMA’s growing national reputation. The Foundation is supported by a Committee of members:

On the occasion of MAMA’s 10th Anniversary, we invite you to consider donating through our Annual Giving Program to ensure that MAMA builds on the successes of the past decade and continues to grow and thrive through the years ahead. 

Notice is given that the MAMA Art Foundation Annual General Meeting will be held at MAMA, 546 Dean Street, Albury on Thursday 12 June 2025 at 5.30pm. Members of the public are invited to attend as observers.

The Annual Financial Report and Chairman’s Report will be presented at this meeting. Observers are invited to join the Foundation for refreshments at the conclusion of the meeting.

Please RSVP to foundation@mamalbury.com.au for catering purposes.

Every two years the National Photography Prize offers an opportunity to consider the vital role of photography in contemporary art in Australia. The National Photography Prize brings together artists from across Australia who are developing and challenging photographic language and techniques.

The Prize provides a forum for artists working with photography to present cohesive selections of work, or works in series, offering a depth of critical reflection that recognises the complexities and nuances of the history of the photograph and its contemporary manifestation.

Generously supported by the MAMA Art Foundation, the National Photography Prize offers a $30,000 acquisitive first prize, the $5000 John and Margaret Baker Fellowship for an emerging practitioner, and further supports a number of artists through focused acquisitions.

Since early 2000, the Baker Family has sponsored the John and Margaret Baker Memorial Fellowship.

John and Margaret Baker along with four friends were tragically killed in a plane crash in 1998. Margaret was a talented and imaginative photographer.

The fellowship provides encouragement and financial assistance to an emerging photographer chosen from the finalists in the biennial National Photography Prize.

The $5000 award is not acquisitive, although one or more of the successful artist’s works may be purchased separately. The fellowship is open to all Australian citizens and residents.

Previous winners

Supporting local emerging visual artists, the Susan Moorhead Memorial Award was established by Charles Sturt University Visual Arts Faculty in 2002 in memory of artist Susan Moorhead (1947-1990). The Award is now held in trust by the MAMA Art Foundation.

This award serves to honour Susan Moorhead’s life of commitment to the arts. During her short but distinguished professional life Susan was an art teacher, exhibiting artist, designer, sculptor and master crafts person.

The biennial award assists local artists in the development and realisation of their professional career. The award seeks to promote conceptual intelligence and original thinking, contemporary relevance and professional execution.

Since 2018, the Award became part of MAMA’s Open Call program. The Open Call invites artists from the Murray region to submit exhibition proposals for the coming year. Of the artists selected to present an exhibition, one will be chosen as the recipient of the Susan Moorhead Memorial Award. This artist will receive $2000 cash, in addition to their exhibiting artist fees. Artists are able to nominate themselves for the award during the Open Call application process.

Previous Winners